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Our Mission
The California Immunization Coalition is a public-private partnership dedicated to achieving and maintaining full immunization protection for all Californians to promote health and prevent serious illness.
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Contact Us
Catherine Flores Martin, Director
California Immunization Coalition
1331 Garden Highway
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 414-9015
Giovanna Forno, Program Associate
(916) 414-9017
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Dr. Richard Pan Introduces New Legislation to Strengthen Medical Exemption Process
California has seen a dramatic increase in the number of permanent medical exemptions from required school vaccinations. Since SB 277 took effect in 2016, medical exemptions have more than tripled - from around 900 medical exemptions per year (2015-2016), to over 4,000 in the 2017-2018 school year (see
ShotsforSchool.org).
At a press conference held today in Sacramento, Dr. Richard Pan along with many partners including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the California Medical Association and Vaccinate California, announced
Senate Bill 276 which will require that medical exemptions from vaccination be reviewed and approved by the California Department of Public Health.
"Medical exemptions have more than tripled since the passage of SB 277. Some schools are reporting that more than 20 percent of their students have a medical exemption," said Dr. Richard Pan. "It is clear that a small number of physicians are monetizing their exemption-granting authority and profiting from the sale of medical exemptions."
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego is a primary co-author of this legislation and she powerfully stated "We're seeing a few doctors get around the law by loosely seeking and issuing medical exemptions when families are willing to pay. That's why I am co-authoring this legislation today with Senator Pan, to say enough is enough."
In addition to the number of professional association representatives in attendance, a special acknowledgement and thanks to the parents of medically at risk children and cancer survivor that spoke today. Their lives and their quality of life also deserve respect and protection. They and their children deserve safe schools and communities.
Bill language can be found
here. Information on school vaccination requirements and school reporting data can be found at
ShotsforSchool.org. Additional information about the bill will be posted on the CIC website and updates will be posted on Twitter
@ImmunizeCA, on
Instagram
@Immunize_California and
ImmunizeCA - on Facebook.
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Press Conference - SB 276
March 26, 2019
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From January 1 to March 21, 2019, 314 people from 15 states (AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, KY, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OR, TX, and WA) have been reported as having measles. At least six outbreaks have been reported in states including New York, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Illinois,and California. Most of these outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from other countries where large measles outbreaks are occurring.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging healthcare professionals to ensure that all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine, including before international travel.
- Discuss the importance of MMR vaccine with parents. Listen and respond to parents' questions. When parents have questions, it does not necessarily mean they won't accept vaccines. Sometimes, they simply want your answers to their questions.
- Ensure all patients are up to date on measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.
- Children need 2 doses of MMR: one dose at 12-15 months and another dose at 4-6 years.
- Before any international travel, infants 6-11 months need 1 dose of MMR vaccine, children 12 months and older need 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, and teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles need 2 doses separated by at least 28 days.
- Consider measles in patients presenting with febrile rash illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms (cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis), and ask patients about recent travel internationally or to domestic venues frequented by international travelers, as well as a history of measles exposures in their communities.
- Promptly isolate patients with suspected measles to avoid disease transmission and immediately report the suspect measles case to the health department.
- Obtain specimens for testing from patients with suspected measles, including viral specimens for genotyping, which can help determine the source of the virus. Contact the local health department with questions about submitting specimens for testing.
Additionally, the California Department of Public Health Immunization Branch has posted some great information on the www.EZIZ.org website, including:
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2019 California Immunization Coalition Summit
Today's Vision: Tomorrow's Reality
April 8-9*, 2019
If you haven't registered for the
2
019 California Immunization Coalition's Summit, now is the time to act - just one more week to Register!
The
2
019 California Immunization Coalition's Summit will be held at the Riverside Convention Center in Riverside, California April 8-9, 2019 and our host hotel will be the fabulous
Mission Inn Hotel.
You won't want to miss the 2019 Summit, always one of the most useful and interesting immunization public health events of the year.
The California Immunization Coalition (CIC) draws its strength from its robust and diverse partners. For 20 years, CIC has been dedicated to achieving and maintaining full immunization thanks to collaborators like you.
The Summit's keynote presenter will be Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. Dr. Hotez is the founding dean of The National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, as well as director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development.
Summit speakers will include:
- Mark Sawyer, MD, FAAP - Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, UCSD School of Medicine
- Dean Blumberg, MD,Associate Professor, Chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, UC Davis
- Kenneth Hempstead, MD, Kaiser Permanente Pediatrics
- Sarah Royce, MD, MPH - California Department of Public Health Immunization Branch Chief
- Jeffrey Goad, PharmD, MPH, Professor, Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Chapman University
Visit the CIC website to find registration and hotel information, view Summit agenda and information about this year's Immunization Leadership Award winner, Dr. Mark Sawyer.
We look forward to returning to Riverside and convening at the impressive
Riverside Convention Center. We hope you will join us for this education-packed event and reserve your spot today.
For more details please visit our website.
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New School Immunization Requirements Effective July 1st, 2019
New California child care and school immunization regulations go into effect on July 1st, 2019.
Students entering Transitional Kindergarten (TK)/Kindergarten, advancing into 7th grade, OR who are new admissions/transfers will need proof of 2 (rather than 1) doses of chickenpox vaccine before starting the 2019-2020 school year and all future school years.
Act now to ensure your adolescent patients are protected against vaccine preventable diseases and are ready for school entry next fall by taking the following steps:
- Make reminder and recall phone calls and send notices NOW to your patients who have not yet received two doses of chickenpox vaccine, or who are missing other required vaccines.
- Order enough chickenpox vaccine to immunize your patients affected by the new law. Before ordering, ensure you have adequate storage in your vaccine refrigerator for your orders.
- Immunize with chickenpox vaccine NOW and at every opportunity, including sports physicals and visits for mild illness or injury, and give other recommended immunizations: Tdap, meningococcal conjugate, HPV, influenza, and any catch-up doses of MMR and hepatitis B.
- Provide your patients and their schools with clear and accurate documentation of varicella immunization. If you use the California Immunization Registry, consider printing out a copy of the 'Blue Card' after chickenpox vaccine has been given for the student to take to school.
- Post downloadable electronic banners on your practice's website and in electronic newsletters to help notify your patients.
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California School Based Health Alliance - 2019
May 9-10, 2019 in Redondo Beach
The California School-Based Health Alliance and the L.A. Trust for Children's Health are hosting the 2019 California School-Based Health Conference: Advancing Wellness & Best Practices for the Future, at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel in Redondo Beach on May 9-10, 2019.
Learn, grow, and connect with fellow providers, educators, advocates, and other leaders in the school-based health care movement across the state. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just starting out in school-based health, we have workshops for all levels of experience and engagement.
Early bird registration ends March 31!
Register now and save $45 off the standard rate.
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National Infant Immunization Week 2019
April 27- May 4, 2019
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), celebrated annually to promote the benefits of immunization and improve the health of children under the age of two years, is celebrating twenty-five years this year. NIIW will be held April 27-May 4, 2019 and
will be a part of the World Health Organization's World Immunization Week. States, countries, and territories around the world will all be promoting immunization and access to vaccines. In addition to offering an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases, NIIW provides a chance to celebrate the successes of immunization programs and their community partners.
Over the years, local California immunization coalitions and programs have celebrated NIIW with events ranging from provider recognition dinners to youth soccer tournaments, and both the CDC and CDPH will be offering tips and support materials for planning local promotional activities. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has educational resources for healthcare professionals, parents and pregnant women and promotional materials including key messages, logos and the NIIW media relations toolkit. For more help, see
Planning Your NIIW
and let CIC know about your activities.
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World Health Organization:
Anti-Vaccine Movement a Top Global Threat
The World Health Organization (WHO) named vaccine hesitancy, the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite available vaccines, among its recently released list of
10 global health threats for 2019
. It joins air pollution and climate change, a worldwide influenza pandemic, weak primary health care and HIV in the listing, among others. WHO pledged to make them priorities for the organization and its partners throughout the year.
Numerous media outlets covered this public health crisis including U.S. News and The New York Times . The New York Times op-ed had a particularly strong and useful call to action so be sure to give it a read.
While vaccine hesitancy is clearly a global problem, public health advocates in the United States have a important responsibility to respond to those who promote bad science and opportunists that seek to confuse and mislead the public. CIC is committed to working on this challenge with you and all of our partners.
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2019 National Conference for IZ Coalitions and Partnerships in Honolulu, HI
November 13-15, 2019
Save the date! The Hawaii Immunization Coalition and the Hawaii Public Health Institute are pleased to announce that they will be co-hosting the 2019 National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships to be held at the Ala Moana Hotel from November 13-15, 2019. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with immunization partners from across the country.
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CIC's Social Media Intern, Ethan Posard is doing a phenomenal job in creating posts and building our following. Help us share events, news and information. If your organization is on social media and we aren't following you - let us know!
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New Prenatal Immunization Infographic!
Visit the
CIC website to access this useful and informative infographic along with other great resources on pregnancy and vaccinations.
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The Spanish website,
vacunasymisalud.org,
has been redirected to the CDPH Immunization website. Including Spanish information on the CDPH website makes the content more accessible to everyone as the website is ADA compliant as well as mobile-friendly.
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The California Immunization Coalition is a statewide 501c3 nonprofit. Newsletter content is the sole responsibility of the California
Immunization
Coalition.
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