This August, the New Jersey Immunization Network is proud to celebrate National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) with its membership. This month "is an annual observance held during the month of August, which highlights the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Together, we can help raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and encourage people to talk to a healthcare provider they trust about staying up to date on their vaccinations" (CDC).

Spotlight:

National Immunization Awareness Month

What Roles Can Healthcare Professionals Play?

CDC

All staff in healthcare practices, including non-clinical staff, play important roles during NIAM:

• Engage in learning opportunities with CDC’s Immunization Education and Training courses.
• Make your practice a supportive space that welcomes vaccine questions and concerns from patients and parents.
• Use proven strategies to encourage parents and patients to stay up to date on vaccinations.
• Make immunization schedules easy for parents and patients to find by displaying them on your website.
• Use tools like PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor Mobile App to help you make vaccine recommendations.
• Share clear and accurate information about the latest vaccine recommendations, including COVID-19 vaccines and RSV vaccines.

Key Strategies for Making Vaccine Recommendations

CDC

Many patients are looking for reassurance from their provider that vaccines are safe and effective. A strong, clear recommendation is usually enough, but others may need more information. Listening to their concerns and answering their questions can help them feel confident in choosing to get a vaccine.

This page from the CDC offers practical strategies for successful conversations with patients to encourage them to keep up to date on routine vaccines. Specific patient groups include:

• People who are pregnant
• Parents of children
• Adults

Calling all Volunteers!

NJIN is currently looking for volunteers to help assist with our Annual Flu Warriors Festivals, particularly those with a clinical background and Spanish speakers. If interested, please contact us via email.

A full list of events can be found in the "Upcoming NJIN Events" section toward the bottom of this newsletter.

Featured Articles and Resources

Back to School:

Immunization Requirements for New Jersey Students

NJDOH

The potential for the spread of infectious diseases is increased whenever individuals are brought into group settings. To prevent some of the most serious infections, the New Jersey school immunization rules, Immunization of Pupils in Schools (N.J.A.C. 8:57-4) require students to receive a series of immunizations prior to attendance at school.

The New Jersey Department of Health offers information resources to parents and school personnel that help ensure they keep their children up to date with required vaccines as we approach the beginning of the school year.

Click on the tables below to open the full immunization requirements summaries.

Child Care/Preschool

Grades K-12

Is a new COVID vaccine coming out? Which RSV vaccine is better?

Study: Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Adults Aged ≥60 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2024

CDC MMWR

What is already known about this topic?

On June 21, 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that adults aged ≥60 years may receive a single dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, using shared clinical decision-making.



What is added by this report?

On June 26, 2024, ACIP voted to update these recommendations as follows: all adults aged ≥75 years and adults aged 60–74 years who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease should receive a single dose of RSV vaccine.

What are the implications for public health practice?

These updated recommendations are intended to maximize RSV vaccination coverage among persons most likely to benefit. Continued postlicensure monitoring will guide future recommendations.

Study: Health and Economic Benefits of Routine Childhood Immunizations in the Era of the Vaccines for Children Program — United States, 1994–2023

CDC MMWR

What is already known about this topic?

Broad access and availability of vaccines is critical for immunization programs to avert disease. Since 1994, the U.S. Vaccines for Children (VFC) program has covered the cost of vaccines for children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford them.

What is added by this report?

Among children born during 1994–2023, routine childhood vaccinations will have prevented approximately 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths, resulting in direct savings of $540 billion and societal savings of $2.7 trillion.

What are the implications for public health practice?

During the VFC program era, routine childhood immunizations in the United States have been an important cost-saving public health strategy. Childhood immunizations continue to provide substantial health and economic benefits and promote health equity.

COVID-19 - Current Epidemic Growth Status (Based on R_t) for States and Territories

CDC

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 August 06, 2024, we estimate that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 32 states and territories, declining or likely declining in 3 state and territory, and are stable or uncertain in 8 states and territories."
• New Jersey: Probability epidemic is growing, R_t = 0.61 Stable or uncertain.

Upcoming NJIN Events

Community Baby Showers

NJIN is embarking on a 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. A community baby shower shows love, care, and solidarity with expecting mothers, ensuring they feel celebrated and supported during this special time in their lives.

October 26, 2024 (Sat)

Jane H. Booker Family Health Center

1828 West Lake Ave., Neptune, NJ 07754

10:00am - 2:00pm

December 6, 2024 (Fri)

Christ Baptist Church

950 Jacksonville Rd., Burlington, NJ 08016

11:00am - 2:00pm

Flu Warriors Festivals

NJIN will host several Flu Warriors Festivals for the Fall of 2024 across the state of New Jersey. The events will target areas with large uninsured and underserved populations. Attendees will be provided with the opportunity to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccines along with educational materials on vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.

NJIN is currently looking for volunteers to help assist with our Festivals, particularly those with a clinical background and Spanish speakers. If interested, please contact us via email.

Other Community Events

NJIN will have a presence at several other community events such as the Fall Family Health Fair, hosted by Virtua Health.

Announcements

Virtua Health will host the Fall Family Health Fair on Saturday, September 7^th at the Virtua Primary Care Mansfield location in Bordentown, NJ.

Join NJIN and the New Jersey Department of Health on Thursday, September 26^th for our Back to School Webinar. Speaker lineup and other details to be announced!

In partnership with the American College of Physicians, NJIN will host the 2024 Adult Immunization Conference on Wednesday, October 30^th. Save the date and be on the lookout for future announcements!

NJIN Meetings Schedule

August 20, 2024 (Tues)

Adult Immunization Conference Planning Committee

11:00am - 12:00pm

August 28, 2024 (Wed)

NJIN Education and Events Committee

1:00pm - 2:00pm

September 11, 2024 (Wed)

NJIN Steering Committee

8:30am - 9:30am

September 18, 2024 (Wed)

NJIN General Membership Meeting

12:00pm - 1:00pm

September 25, 2024 (Wed)

NJIN Education and Events Committee

1:00pm - 2:00pm

We Want to Hear From You!

We at NJIN would like to encourage input from our newsletter 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 NJIN Director Maria Sciancalepore via email at msciancalepore@njaap.org.