A publication of the Immunization Action Coalition of WA (IACW) and WithinReach
March 2021

Greetings!


As in-person learning and school sports are resuming across our state, it is important that we ensure our children and teens have the vaccines they need to stay healthy and protected! Data has shown that vaccination rates for children, especially pre-teens and teens, have plummeted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WithinReach, the Washington State Department of Health and Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics launched a new campaign called Vax to School to provide resources for families, healthcare providers and schools to support children getting caught up on their routine vaccinations. Please visit our website to check-out the great Vax to School resources.

In our March newsletter, you’ll find resources for ensuring equitable access of the COVID-19 vaccine, upcoming webinars, the newly-released 2021 U.S Recommended Immunization Schedule, and other information we hope you’ll find helpful in your work.

As always, stay safe, stay healthy, and get vaccinated!


WithinReach
COVID-19 Vaccine

The Ad Council and COVID Collaborative are leading a massive communications effort to educate the public and build confidence around COVID-19 vaccines. Guided by the leading minds in science and medicine and fueled by the best talent in the private sector, the COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative is designed to reach different audiences, including communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.


The COVID-19 pandemic impacts everyone. To ensure effective outreach and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine to all communities, DOH benefits from as many perspectives and partners as are willing to be part of the effort. Individuals and organizations representing communities most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 are invited to participate in bi-monthly community relations briefings and collaborative feedback sessions hosted by DOH. 


"It's time for Black folks to have conversation between us, about us." Between Us, About Us is a new campaign to provide Black communities with credible information about the COVID-19 vaccines co-developed by Kaiser Family Foundation and the Black Coalition Against COVID. Black doctors, nurses and researchers dispel misinformation and provide accessible facts in 50 FAQ videos that deliver the information Black people are asking for about the COVID-19 vaccines. See their first video on YouTube here.

Upcoming Webinars & Events
Register today for the April 2021 IACW meeting. Our Spring meeting will feature a presentation on the impacts on Seattle Public Schools students of the 2019 Washington State legislation requiring childhood vaccinations for school entry, 2021 legislative session overview, and DOH COVID-19 updates. Join us! 


The fight against COVID-19 is also a fight against misinformation and health disparities. How can you incorporate data into your communications strategy to combat misinformation, eliminate health disparities and keep your community safe and informed? A panel of leading experts will explore the role that data can play in elevating public messaging, and offer insights into how to take a data-first approach to tell a story that resonates with diverse audiences.


March 24, 2021 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. PST
COVID-19 vaccines are one of the best tools we have to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and help restore health and economic security for our families and communities. In the next installment of Immunize Colorado's educational webinar series, they will focus on COVID-19 vaccines and ways to monitor and counteract vaccine hesitancy in both the clinical and community setting. 

Free E-Courses

Hepatitis B Health Disparities in Refugee and Immigrant Communities


Drop Your Assumptions and Pick Up the Evidence: Strategies for Communication with Parents About Vaccines

News

As many as 18 states in the US have not specifically prioritized the homeless community in their plans for distributing COVID-19 vaccines, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizing the population as high risk when it comes to the virus, a study has found.


WithinReach continues to adapt its work in ways that help us best serve Washington families. We are proud to be part of the public health response to the COVID-19 crisis and are taking action with our community and partners to support people who have been affected by the pandemic.


Thankfully, the vast majority of kids with COVID-19 don’t get sick or show only mild flu-like symptoms. But a small percentage develop a troubling, syndrome called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Fortunately, most kids respond to treatment and make rapid recoveries.

Resources Section
QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS?
Contact us: ic@withinreachwa.org
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.

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.