New Influenza Vaccine Recommendations

It's vaccination season, which means it's time to remind everyone to get an influenza vaccine along with the updated COVID-19 vaccine that is expected to be available shortly. It’s also a great time to offer the RSV and pneumococcal vaccines.

Updated Pneumococcal Vaccine Guidelines

This week, U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued new recommendations for administration of the pneumococcal vaccine for adults aged 19 and over. Caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium, pneumococcal disease can result in a range of infections, including pneumonia, meningitis,sinusitis, and otitis media.

Those over the age of 65, as well as adults with underlying health conditions, are at an increased risk of developing pneumococcal disease and experiencing serious illness. Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against more than 100 serotypes of pneumococcal bacteria.

Download the PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor App for up-to-date CDC recommendations and guidance on which pneumococcal vaccines a patient needs and when.

COVID-19 ED Visits and Hospitalizations Increase

COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased 18.8%, while deaths from COVID-19 increased 17.6% for the most recent reporting week. The 7-day moving average of ED visits with diagnosed COIVD-19 is 2.3% as of August 26, with the greatest number of cases in adults 75 years and older.

Long-term care facilities are seeing an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, reporting 8.2/1000 cases for the week ending August 27.

Vaccination remains a vital tool to protect public health. One dose of the updated (bivalent) vaccine is required for individuals to be considered up to date.

You can make a difference. Help keep your community safe and healthy. Remember to WAVE - ask "What About Vaccines?" at Every Encounter.

Who is Up-To-Date on COVID-19 Vaccines?

View the CDC map of COVID-19 up-to-date vaccinations and trend by age, sex and state.

Vax Facts 5-Week Series Gets You Ready for Vaccine Season

Join us for a five-week education series to help with your vaccine campaign efforts. All 30-minute sessions will be on Wednesdays at 12 noon ET.

Session 1 - Preparing Your Vaccine Campaign September 6

Session 2 - RSV - Steps to Improve Vaccine Uptake September 13

Session 3 - Exploring the Vaccination Toolkit September 20

Session 4 - Engaging your Resident Council September 27

Session 5 - Vaccinations and MDS & NHSN October 4

Visit our Resource Library to download a new LINKS Immunization Portfolio featuring patient/resident facing material on adult vaccines.

Upcoming Education

Leader's Forum: Addressing Sepsis Across the Continuum

September 14, 3 - 4 pm ET

OR

September 20, 11 am - 12 pm ET

Join this quarter to hear how providers across the IPRO QIN-QIO are addressing sepsis in their communities. We’ll hear about New York’s Home Health Effort, a SNF collaborative in Maryland, and community-focused effort in Maine. 

Share what you are doing and learn from others.