A publication of the Immunization Action Coalition of WA (IACW) and WithinReach
October 2020
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Greetings!
As the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic continues, WithinReach remains committed to serving the families, communities and individuals in our state. As your partner, we work hard to ensure families have access to the resources they need to be healthy. Families can connect with us through our Help Me Grow Washington Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 or ParentHelp123.org website.
While we await the development of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, we continue to bring awareness about the importance and safety of vaccines. And in the meantime, we can prevent flu and its potentially serious complications through annual flu vaccination. Check out our Flu Page on Immunity Community for information and resources!
October’s newsletter includes a variety of flu resources, news and information about the upcoming IACW quarterly meeting on October 21st. Register today!
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Get the Flu Vaccine!
WithinReach
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The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) received federal funding through the CARES Act in June 2020 to enhance Washington’s annual seasonal flu prevention efforts. The goals of the funding are to increase vaccination coverage and reduce the risk of additional strain on our health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With these funds, DOH launched the Think of It as Essential campaign in mid-September to promote the importance of making the choice to get a flu vaccine this year. As a supplement to the statewide campaign, the materials below are available for partners to use on their communication channels.
More information can be found here.
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The nation’s leading experts presented final influenza vaccine coverage data from the 2019-2020 season and discussed the importance of vaccination in order to prevent flu and pneumococcal disease at the 2020 NFID Influenza/Pneumococcal Disease News Conference on October 1. NFID also shared results from a new national survey of US adults and their attitudes and behaviors about COVID-19, influenza and pneumococcal disease.
Annual vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older as the best way to prevent influenza (flu) and related complications. Flu vaccines are updated annually to protect against the influenza viruses research indicates are most likely to circulate during the upcoming season. Even in cases when vaccination does not prevent infection completely, it can reduce the severity of the disease and prevent the most serious complications of flu, including hospitalization and death.
More information can be found here.
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It’s more important than ever to get a flu vaccine this year. We may not have a vaccine yet for COVID-19, but we DO have a vaccine for the flu that has been safely given to millions of people for more than 50 years. The flu vaccine can keep you from getting sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. That keeps you out of doctors’ offices and hospitals and it also help saves important medical resources for COVID-19 patients.
Free flu vaccine will be available in multiple locations in King County this fall, for those who don’t have insurance or can’t afford vaccine. Some require appointments; some will be drive-through or walk-up events. Vaccine clinic times and locations will be updated through out the flu season at www.kingcounty.gov/findaclinic.
More information can be found here.
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Upcoming Webinars & Events |
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October 21, 2020 Noon - 2:00 p.m. PT
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Register today for our October IACW Meeting! The agenda includes updates from the WA State Department of Health, including a look at their recently launched "Think of It as Essential" flu campaign and a special presentation from Dr. Jim Kublin, Director of the Fred Hutch-based COVID-19 Prevention Network.
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October 15, 2020 1:00 p.m. ET
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Mass vaccination clinics allow the rapid and efficient administration of vaccines to a large number of people over a relatively short period of time. This approach can help during delivery of routinely recommended vaccines like influenza. It can also be used once COVID-19 vaccines are released. How can you plan and manage such a daunting undertaking?
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October 8, 2020 1:00 p.m. ET
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At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to accomplish the following—
- Cite background information on the topic covered during the presentation.
- Discuss CDC’s role in the topic covered during the presentation.
- Describe the topic’s implications for clinicians.
- Discuss concerns and/or issues related to preparedness for and/or response to urgent public health threats.
- Promote health improvement, wellness and disease prevention in cooperation with patients, communities, at-risk populations and other members of an interprofessional team of health care providers.
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Hepatitis B Health Disparities in Refugee and Immigrant Communities
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Drop Your Assumptions and Pick Up the Evidence: Strategies for Communication with Parents About Vaccines
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The Covid-19 vaccine allocation plan – co-led by the World Health Organization and known as Covax – has been set up to ensure that the research, purchase and distribution of any new vaccine is shared equally between the world’s richest countries and those in the developing world.
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A key metric in seeking to end the COVID-19 pandemic is the likely duration of acquired immunity, which is how long people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, are protected against reinfection.
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With flu season fast approaching, and the Covid-19 pandemic raging on, hospitals and pharmacies across the country are stockpiling far more flu vaccines than normal, anticipating a surge in demand.
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To meet the needs of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Seattle Visiting Nurse Association are offering low contact, drive-through immunization clinics at several sites throughout King and Snohomish Counties. Patients will register online for an appointment at their preferred site.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently released a consensus study recommending a four-phase framework to inform national and local guidelines for equitable COVID-19 vaccine allocation.
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QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS?
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Making the connections Washington families need to be healthy and safe. Promoting, protecting & supporting immunization as a vital part of the health and development of children and families. |
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Founded in 1994, the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW), a program of WithinReach, works to improve the health of the community by minimizing the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases through the optimal use of immunizations across the lifespan.
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