The MIAP Conference is 12 days away!

Conference updates:

Click here to visit the conference website.

Please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org) with questions.

On August 3, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, adopted the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for the use of nirsevimab, trade name BeyfortusTM , a long-acting monoclonal antibody product, which has been shown to reduce the risk of both hospitalizations and healthcare visits for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants by about 80 percent.

On September 14, the Massachusetts Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council (MVPAC) recommended that nirsevimab be added to the formulary of state-supplied pediatric vaccine.

On October 2, nirsevimab became available for ordering through the State Vaccine Program.

On October 6, the American Medical Association approved two CPT codes for administration of nirsevimab. Click here to read more.

Also on October 6, the CDC published recommendations for RSV vaccine for pregnant persons at 32–36 weeks’ gestation using seasonal administration (meaning September–January in most of the United States) to prevent RSV-associated LRTI in infants aged <6 months.

Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional RSV resources.

As of September 12, the new 2023-24 Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are approved by FDA and CDC. The new mRNA vaccines are universally recommended to everyone 6 months and older. The vaccines are available for order through the State Vaccine Program.

On October 3, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted to include the 2023-2024 formula. The vaccine is now available for order through the State Vaccine Program.

On October 10, in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MWWR), the CDC published recommendations for the use of updated COVID-19 vaccines for persons 6 months of years and older .

Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional COVID-19 vaccine resources.

Every Fall, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences Immunization 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 flu dashboard. Please contact Joyce Cohen (Joyce.cohen@mass.gov) for more information.

On September 28, Lisa Grohskopf, MD, MPH, presented a 2023-2023 Influenza Season Update for the MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series. Click here to access the webinar recording and webinar resources.

Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional flu season resources.

On September 21, MDPH communicated an update regarding pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) availability. From the MDPH update:

Due to the additional 5 protective serotypes in Prevnar-20 (PCV20) and the simplified schedule for high-risk children (no need for an additional dose of PPSV23), the Massachusetts Vaccine Purchase Advisory Council (MVPAC) recently recommended to make Prevnar-20 (PCV20) the only PCV option that will be available for providers in Massachusetts through the universal program. This recommendation was adopted by the Department and is being implemented effective immediately.

The September 2023 Vaccine Management Unit Update also included information about ordering PCV vaccine.

Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional PCV resources.

On September 23, the Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) exhibited at the Western Mass Conference of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC). MVCP staff had an opportunity to meet with and respond to questions from early childhood professionals. Immunization resources for both staff and parents were distributed.

On October 6, the MVCP partnered with Team Maureen to present, "Understanding and Building Vaccine Confidence on the Cape & Islands." The virtual event for school nurses and Cape/Islands-based providers addressed the burden of vaccine preventable disease; the current childhood immunization schedule; utilizing Massachusetts school immunization data to learn about the current state of vaccination/exemption rates on the Cape and Islands; and understanding the determinants of vaccine confidence and building motivational interviewing skills as a means to improving health. Attendees also heard about the activities of a local, school-based vaccination clinic.

On October 28, the MVCP will exhibit at the 28th Annual MIAP Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference. If you are attending the conference in-person, please visit the exhibit to check out our resources!

Thank you for all that you do to protect Massachusetts children and adults against vaccine preventable diseases!

Click here to visit the MVCP website.

Click here for more information

On Saturday, November 4, MCAAP partner, Massachusetts PTA, will present, "Healthy Living for Everyone - A Unified Voice - Health Symposium." The Health Symposium will be held at Thayer Academy, Braintree. Massachusetts PTA is inviting parents, guardians, educators, health professionals, partners, and ALL community members to gather together to discuss the most pressing issues facing our children and youth. Join Massachusetts PTA for a day of thoughtful presentations, panel discussions and networking. Ample opportunity for discussion will be included.

MCAAP President, Mary Beth Miotto, MD, MPH, FAAP, and MCAAP member, Safdar Medina, MD, will present at the Health Symposium.

Symposium topics include:

All who register before or on October 15th will be eligible for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Enter the Coupon Code: EARLYBIRD when checking out. Two winners are possible. You must be present at the Symposium lunch to be eligible.

Click here for more information. If you have questions, please contact Jackie Coogan, Chair, Massachusetts PTA Health, Safety and Wellness Committee (j.coogan@masspta.org).

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine (RSV)

Recently Published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Click here to visit the conference website.

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Click here to access the webinar recording and resources.

Click here to access the webinar recording and resources.

Click here to access the webinar recording, presentation slides and resources.

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