NJIN Monthly Newsletter
February 2025
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In this edition of the NJIN monthly newsletter, we present several
vaccine-related articles and updates related to topics such as RSV, Flu, and COVID-19.
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Shot of Truth:
Addressing Vaccine Myths, Barriers, and Building Confidence with Cultural Humility
February 28th, 2025
1:00pm-3:00pm ET
On Friday, February 28th, 2025, the New Jersey Immunization Network will host guest speakers Luiz Alzate-Duque, MD and Mary Bridgeman, PharmD for a two-hour webinar about vaccine myths, how to overcome barriers to vaccination using community resources, and applying motivational interviewing techniques with cultural humility.
CME will be made available.
Registration is required.
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Disclosure: All faculty and planners for this activity have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. | |
Click the flyer to open as a high resolution PDF. | |
Accreditation Statement:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Medical Society of New Jersey. New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics is accredited by the Medical Society of New Jersey to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Designation Statement:
New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics designates this live internet activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ABP MOC Part II:
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 2 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.
| Click the button below for information on our speakers, learning objectives, and more. |
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Getting to Know New Jersey's Vaccine Preventable Disease Program
March 14th, 2025
9:00am-11:00am ET
On March 14, 2025, NJIN will host a webinar in partnership with the team from the New Jersey Department of Health's Vaccine Preventable Disease Program.
Topics will include:
- New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS)
- Vaccines for Children (VFC)
- Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers (IQIP)
- Health Education
- Disease surveillance
- Population health
More information to follow.
Registration is required.
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In the meantime, you can review the following links to familiarize yourself with VFC program information. | |
These pages are updated periodically and include many new reference documents including a new temperature excursion webinar. | |
Spotlight:
American Heart Month
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February is "American Heart Month." Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. | |
According to the American Heart Association, "diseases caused by viruses, such as the coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, can cause inflammation," which can lead to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). "So can bacterial illnesses such as pneumonia."
Vaccinating against COVID-19, flu, and other preventable infectious diseases is therefore particularly important for those with or at risk of developing heart disease to protect themselves from inflammation and other risk factors.
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Featured Articles and Resources | |
NJIN Survey on Vaccine Knowledge and Referral Practices |
The New Jersey Immunization Network is requesting feedback from providers in our membership to help inform our upcoming webinar, Shot of Truth: Addressing Vaccine Myths, Barriers, and Building Confidence with Cultural Humility.
This brief survey on vaccine knowledge and referral practices will help our speakers tailor their presentations to address the interests and the needs of our audience.
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2025 Medicare-Medicaid Parity for Primary Care Across New Jersey Survey
NJAAP
| NJIN is now on Bluesky. Our goal is to continue to expand our digital presence in pursuit of our organization's mission to spread the word about vaccine safety and benefits to all individuals through timely, age-appropriate immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases. |
AAP Efforts Put Vaccines Front and Center in Hearings for HHS Secretary
AAP News
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Recognizing the "urgent need to elevate pediatrician voices and ensure that the importance of childhood immunizations was front and center," the AAP has engaged in a "multifaceted advocacy campaign to elevate the importance of vaccinations" in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
These efforts include sharing nearly 200 pediatricians' testimonials on "their experiences discussing immunizations with families and treating vaccine-preventable diseases" with the U.S. Senate and submitting them into the congressional record. AAP has also been active bringing vaccines to the forefront through the news media, including contributions to pieces published in the Associated Press, New York Times, and CBS News.
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State Lawmakers Are Pushing for Vaccine Exemptions Even as Childhood Vaccination Rates Fall
Associated Press
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In more than 15 states, lawmakers are attemtping to introduce or resurrect legislation to "create new religious exemptions from immunization mandates, establish state-level vaccine injury databases or dictate what providers must tell patients about the shots."
As childhood vaccination rates against preventable diseases like measles and polio continue to fall nationwide, and deadly disease outbreaks continue to arise, AAP President Dr. Susan Kressly stresses that "policy should be focused on getting rid of barriers to vaccination, not adding to them."
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What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Family Immunizations
AMA
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"The AMA’s What Doctors Wish Patients Knew™ series gives physicians a platform to share what they want patients to understand about today’s health care headlines.
In this installment, two physicians took time to discuss what patients need to know about immunizations for the entire family."
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Video: Do Infants Born Soon After Maternal RSV Vaccination Need RSV Preventive Antibody?
Immunize.org
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This video from Immunize.org's Ask the Experts Video Series explains that infants should receive nirsevimab (Beyfortus, Sanofi) if they are born less than 14 days after the mother received the RSV vaccine.
For more videos from the Ask the Experts Video Series, click the button below.
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Reminder: CDC 2025 Immunization Recommendations Schedules Now Available
CDC
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The 2025 Adult Immunization Schedule approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and adopted by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director on October 24, 2024 is now available.
CDC’s goal is for the schedules to provide the public, health care providers, and programs with clear, concise, and up-to-date immunization information. These tools help ensure immunizations are timely, effective, and given safely.
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Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
CDC
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Key Points (week ending February 1)
- Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated and is higher than it has been all season.
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New Jersey: Influenza-Like Illness activity "very high."
- CDC estimates that there have been at least 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
- An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu and vaccination helps prevent infection and can also prevent serious outcomes in people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.
- CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine.
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Flu viruses are among several viruses that contribute to respiratory disease activity. CDC is providing updated, integrated information about COVID-19, flu, and RSV activity on a weekly basis.
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COVID-19 - Current Epidemic Growth Status (Based on Rt) for States and Territories
CDC
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This interactive tool from the CDC allows users to view the current COVID-19 epidemic growth status for all US states and territories.
Key Points:
- "As of February 11, 2025, we estimate that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 2 states, declining or likely declining in 16 states, and not changing in 30 states."
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New Jersey: Probability the COVID-19 epidemic trend is growing: 34.40% (not changing). Rt Estimate: 0.99 (0.82 - 1.10) % of ED visits (COVID-19): 1.3% (low)
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Nationwide: Probability the COVID-19 epidemic trend is not growing: 42.60% (not changing). Rt Estimate: 0.98 (0.78 - 1.24) % of ED visits (COVID-19): 0.97% (low)
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Community Baby Showers
In 2025, NJIN is continuing to build upon our new community initiative, “Community Baby Showers.” A community baby shower is to celebrate and support mothers-to-be in underserved communities by providing them with essential resources, information, and a supportive network as they prepare for the arrival of their babies. It aims to empower mothers, promote health and well-being, foster connections among community members, and create a positive and nurturing environment for mothers and their families. Here is a list of our upcoming showers.
1. March 20, 2025 (Thur.)
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Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm
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Partner: Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers
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Venue: All Wars Memorial Building
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Address: 1510 Adriatic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
2. April 24, 2025 (Thur.)
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Time: 12:00pm-4:00pm
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Partner: Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers
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Venue: Tabernacle Baptist Church
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Address: 150 E 2nd St, Burlington, 08016
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February 26, 2025 (Wed)
NJIN Education and Events Committee
1:00pm - 2:00pm
March 13, 2025 (Thu)
NJIN Steering Committee
9:00am - 10:00am
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We Want to Hear From You! | |
The NJIN team encourages input from our readers. Any suggestions on topics, resources, or other ideas that you'd like to see included going forward are welcome!
Please share your feedback with us at NJIN@njaap.org.
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