Presenter: Grace Ryan, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the webinar, participants should be able to:

Click here to register for the webinar on Thursday, January 26, 2023.

Presenters: Neil Murthy, MD, MPH, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and A. Patricia Wodi, MD, Medical Officer, CDC

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the webinar, participants should be able to:

Click here to register for the webinar on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

The target audience includes healthcare professionals who provide immunizations to in Massachusetts, including MCAAP members, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, medical assistants, public health workers, community health center staff, pharmacists and office staff who work in pediatric and adult health care settings.

The Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health is accredited by the Massachusetts Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, designates this Live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Massachusetts Medical Society through the joint providership of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, MA Dept. of Public Health and The MCAAP Immunization Initiative.

This program has been offered by the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. A maximum of 1.0 contact hours for this program will be provided in accordance with the regulations governing continuing education requirements for the following Boards of Registration:

Board of Registration in Nursing (CMR 244 5.00), Board of Registration of Social Workers (258CMR 31.00et seq), Board of Mental Health Professions (262CMR 7.00), Board of Certification of Health Officers (241CMR 4.03), Board of Registration of Sanitarians (255CMR 5.02).

Pharmacists may receive up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ in accordance with 247CMR 4.00.

Registration is free; pre-registration is required. Click on the following links to register:

Contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).

Measles is being reported in the United States. As of January 5, 2023, 118 cases of measles have been reported in five U.S. jurisdictions. While national and state vaccination rates overall remain high, there can be pockets of low community vaccination due to factors such as vaccine hesitancy and refusal, and introduction of measles from unvaccinated international travelers. These factors and others can put communities at risk for measles outbreaks.

A December 2022 Medscape article, "Measles in the US: 5 Things You Need to Know," provides helpful information for providers, including recommendations for vaccination, diagnosing measles, consideration of post exposure prophylaxis, and isolation. (Please note: Medscape login is required; an account can be created for free.)

See the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional resources.

While seasonal influenza activity remains high, activity as of December 31, 2022 (Week 52), has been declining for the past several weeks. MDPH's January 6, 2023 Weekly Flu Report notes that Massachusetts influenza severity was very high for the week ending December 31, 2022. The percent of influenza-like illness (ILI) visits in Massachusetts was 7.07%, which was higher than the regional baseline of 2.0% reported in the same week during the previous three seasons.

The percent of hospitalizations associated with influenza was 5.00%, which was higher than the same week in the previous three seasons. Overall ILI activity was very high. Inner Metro Boston reported high ILI activity; all other regions reported very high ILI activity.

Of influenza A viruses detected and subtyped during the week ending December 31 2022, 70% were influenza A(H3N2) and 30% were influenza A(H1N1). The majority of influenza viruses tested were in the same genetic subclade as and antigenically similar to the influenza viruses included in this season’s influenza vaccine.

All viruses collected and evaluated this season have been susceptible to the influenza antivirals oseltamivir, peramivir, zanamivir, and baloxavir.

For the week ending December 31, 2022, 13 pediatric deaths were reported in CDC's Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, Fluview. A total of 74 pediatric deaths have been reported so far this season. CDC estimates that, so far this season, there have been at least 22 million illnesses, 230,000 hospitalizations, and 14,000 deaths from flu.

It is not too late to vaccinate! CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older receive an influenza vaccine as long as influenza strains are circulating.

References:

Weekly Flu Report (1/6/23), MDPH

FluView, CDC

Voices for Vaccines, a family-led vaccine advocacy organization, has introduced a free, online course, The Vaccine Quest. The Vaccine Quest is a course on vaccines and science literacy designed for a general audience. The Course includes practical information about vaccination and helpful skills for reading science. It is intended not only for people who might have questions about vaccines, but also for anyone who spends time answering questions about vaccines.

The course includes five modules that can be completed at one's own pace.

Click here for more information and to enroll in the course.

Recently Published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report