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MCAAP Immunization Initiative Update
November 2023
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CDC Publishes
2024 Immunization Schedules
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published the 2024 child/adolescent and adult immunization schedules. Web, pdf (child/adolescent and adult) and app versions of the schedule are available. A summary of 2024 immunization schedule updates and guidance can be found here.
Earlier availability of the 2024 Immunization Schedules is part of CDC’s effort to better support immunization professionals and to improve timely implementation of new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. The 2024 schedules are effective immediately, and you do not need to wait until January 1, 2024, for the schedules to go into effect.
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR) & Annals of Internal Medicine report summarizing the 2024 updates will be published in early 2024. Parent-friendly schedules and online vaccine assessment tools also will be available in early 2024.
Save the Date! The MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series will present "2024 Immunization Schedules Update," on Thursday, February 1, at 12:00 PM. Registration information for the webinar will be forthcoming.
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28th Annual MIAP Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference
More than 380 attendees participated at this year's MIAP Conference, held as a hybrid event on October 25, 2023. The full-day conference included plenary and breakout sessions, in-person and virtual exhibits, and the presentation of the 2023 MIAP Conference Award to Gabriela Garcia, RN, BSN (scroll down to read more about Gabriela).
The MIAP Conference Planning Committee would like to thank the following people and organizations for participating in this year's MIAP Conference:
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MIAP President and Master of Ceremonies - Lloyd Fisher
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Plenary Session Presenters – Angela Fowler, Lydia Greene, Christina Hermos, Paul Offit, Heather Simpson, and Pejman Talebian
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Breakout Session Presenters – Trisha Barungi, Leslie Benson, Julie Coco, Lloyd Fisher, Dylan Kirby, T.J. Schuch, and Jodi Wenger
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Plenary and Breakout Session Moderators – Laurie Courtney, Lloyd Fisher, Megan Lenane, Hillary Johnson, and Cynthia McReynolds
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In-Person and Virtual Exhibitors – American Cancer Society, AstraZeneca, Community Health Programs, CSL Seqirus, GSK, Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project, Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses, MDPH-Color, MDPH-Immunization Nurses, MDPH-MIIS, MDPH-Vaccine Management Unit, Merck, Moderna, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Sylvie Ratelle HIV/STD Prevention Training Center
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MIAP Conference Production Team - Kathryn Ahnger-Pier, Alexandra Burke, Ted Clark, Cynthia McReynolds and Pam Worthington
Finally, the Committee would like to thank this year's attendees! We hope to see you again in 2024!
The conference presentations are available on the conference website Speakers tab. Scroll down and click on "View Profile." Presentations can be found under "Speaker Documents."
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2023 MIAP Conference Awardee
Gabriela Garcia, RN, BSN
Vaccine Program Coordinator
Lynn Community Health Center
Each year, the Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) recognizes individuals or groups that have made an outstanding contribution to pediatric immunizations in Massachusetts. The recipient of this award is an individual or an organization that has demonstrated particular leadership, initiative, innovation, collaboration and/or advocacy.
The MIAP Conference Planning Committee is delighted to recognize the 2023 Conference Awardee, Gabriela Garcia. Click here to read more.
Congratulations, Gabriela!
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Update
On October 23, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisory, "Limited Availability of Nirsevimab in the United States—Interim CDC Recommendations to Protect Infants from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the 2023–2024 Respiratory Virus Season." Please read the full HAN Advisory for more details, including background information, recommendations for healthcare providers and the public, and additional resources.
MDPH sent a Nirsevimab Ordering Update on November 9. The update confirms that provider sites will not be able to request additional doses of nirsevimab products (Beyfortus 100mg (NDC: 49281-0574-15) and Beyfortus 50mg (NDC: 49281-0575-15) through the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) during the ordering shutdown, which will continue thru the end of this RSV season. The update also provides additional information about the distribution of the limited supply that it will be receiving in November.
Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional RSV resources.
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COVID-19 Vaccines Update
On October 20, CDC published recommendations for the use of updated COVID-19 vaccines for persons 6 months of years and older in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
On November 3, CDC added the following update to its Interim Guidance Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States webpage: "Healthcare providers who administer the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2023-2024 Formula) to individuals ages 6 months through 11 years should ensure the correct volume of the vaccine (0.25 mL) is withdrawn from the vial and administered to the recipient. Discard vial and excess volume after extracting a single dose."
Moderna has developed the following resources to assist healthcare providers (HCPs) in administering Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2023-2024 formula) to individuals ages 6 months through 11 years:
- A HCP letter provides a thorough explanation of the dosing and administration guidance for Moderna's pediatric vials;
- A training video provides a step-by-step guide for accurately drawing and administering the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna vials, ensuring that each child receives the proper dose.
The November 2023 MDPH Vaccine Management Unit Update includes an update about ordering COVID-19 vaccines.
Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional COVID-19 vaccine resources.
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2023-2024 Influenza Season Update
From MPDH - We Need Your Help!
How you can contribute to influenza surveillance
Every Fall, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences Epidemiology Program recruits outpatient medical practices to participate in ILINet, a national surveillance system for influenza-like illness (ILI). This volunteer program is a critical component of influenza surveillance, allowing real-time tracking of the ever-changing epidemiology of influenza as well as other respiratory illnesses. There are 2 components to the program: Submission of specimens (usually nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs) to the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory (MA SPHL) for influenza surveillance testing (we provide the flu kits and cover the shipping using UPS), and weekly data collection with easy electronic reporting of patient visits due to influenza-like illness. You can do one or both! Contributing to this valuable surveillance program means you play a role in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nationwide Influenza Surveillance Report that is published weekly as well as our own Viral Respiratory Illness Dashboard. Please contact Joyce Cohen (joyce.cohen@mass.gov) for more information.
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)
is December 4-8, 2023
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is held each December to remind us that its not too late for everyone 6 months and older to be vaccinated against the flu. NIVW will be held this year December 4-8.
NIVW provides an opportunity for providers to reach out to patients who have not received a flu vaccine yet. The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) has created a Social Media Toolkit that can be utilized to promote NIVW in your practice. Additionally, CDC's "Wild to Mild" Campaign resources can be printed or posted to visually show how flu vaccination can ‘tame’ flu’s symptoms from being ‘wild’ to ‘mild’ in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created a Flu Toolkit to help providers to promote the importance of flu vaccination throughout the influenza season. The Toolkit includes graphics, videos, sample social media posts, and sample emails.
Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional flu season resources.
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PCV Update
On September 29, 2023, CDC published updated guidelines for the use of a new 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20, Prevnar 20, Pfizer) for children. The CDC recommends use of PCV20 as an option to PCV15 for:
- Routine vaccination of all children aged 2–23 months;
- Catch-up vaccination for healthy children aged 24–59 months who have not received age-appropriate doses; and
- Children aged 24–71 months with certain underlying medical conditions at increased risk for pneumococcal disease who have not received age-appropriate doses.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated the Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcal) Infections chapter in Red Book on Red Book Online to reflect the updated guidelines for the use of a new 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20, Prevnar 20, Pfizer) for children.
See the full update in the Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcal) Infections chapter in Red Book on Red Book Online.
Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional PCV resources.
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Vaccine Confidence Update
October 6, the Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) collaborated with Team Maureen to present "Understanding and Building Vaccine Confidence on the Cape & Islands." School nurses and staff, public health professionals and pediatric providers attended the three-hour meeting. A panel of presenters provided information about understanding the burden of vaccine preventable disease; exploring the adolescent immunization schedule and recent changes; utilizing Massachusetts school immunization data to learn about the current state of vaccination/exemption rates on the Cape and Islands; understanding the determinants of vaccine confidence and build motivational interviewing skills as a means to improving health; and developing a local school-based vaccination clinic.
On October 25, the MVCP exhibited at the MIAP Conference. MVCP staff were on hand to answer attendee questions. Resources for both HCPs and their patients were also distributed.
Be on the lookout for the next MVCP newsletter! Click here to be added to the newsletter mail list.
Thank you for all that you do to protect Massachusetts children and adults against vaccine preventable diseases!
Click here to visit the MVCP website.
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Resource Spotlight
Dashboards
COVID-19 Vaccines
2023-2024 Influenza Season/National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)
- NIVW website, CDC
- NIVW Social Media Toolkit, Association of Immunization Managers (AIM)
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Influenza information for Healthcare Professionals website, CDC
- HCP Fight Flu Toolkit, CDC
- 2023-2024 Flu Season Digital Media Toolkit, CDC
- Multi-Language Print Resources
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
- PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor Mobile App for Vaccine Providers, CDC
- Catch-Up Guidance Job Aid: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Catch-Up Guidance for Healthy Children 4 Months through 4 Years of Age, CDC
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine (RSV)
Recently Published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Bulletins and Newsletters
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Educational Activities, Events
and Meetings
December 4-8, 2023
CDC and Partners
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)
Visit the NIVW website for updates. See the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for NIVW resources.
Save the Date!
Thursday, February 1, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series
2024 Immunization Schedules Update
Webinar registration information will be forthcoming.
February 28-29, 2024
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
ACIP Meeting
Visit the ACIP website for meeting information and updates.
Thursday, March 14, 2024, 4:00-6:00 PM
Massachusetts Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council (MVPAC)
MVPAC Meeting
Massachusetts Medical Society, Waltham, MA
Visit the MVPAC website for meeting information and updates.
Save the Date!
Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC)
29th Annual MA Adult Immunization Conference
Boston Marriott Newton, Newton, MA
Visit the MAIC website for updates.
On Demand Meetings and Recordings
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series
2023-2024 Influenza Season Update (recorded 9/28/23)
Click here to access the webinar recording and resources.
Vaccine Refresher! Preventing Vaccine Administration Errors (recorded 6/29/23)
Click here to access the webinar recording and resources.
Understanding Current COVID-19 and HPV Vaccination Challenges (recorded 1/26/23)
Click here to access the webinar recording, presentation slides and resources.
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