I Raise the Rates! December Edition

In this edition of I Raise the Rates (IRtR), you will find a variety of new resources from several public health partners, educational opportunities, and a brief selection of popular media articles related to immunization.

Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers to low vaccination rates against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity caused by multiple pathogens, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), and RSV, could lead to more severe disease and increased healthcare capacity strain in the coming weeks. In addition, a recent increase in cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) following SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States has been reported.

Healthcare providers should administer influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations now to patients, if recommended. Healthcare providers should recommend antiviral medications for influenza and COVID-19 for all eligible patients, especially patients at high-risk of progression to severe disease such as older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions. Healthcare providers should also counsel patients about testing and other preventive measures, including covering coughs/sneezes, staying at home when sick, improving ventilation at home or work, and washing hands to protect themselves and others against respiratory diseases.

ACP Internist Weekly - CDC Publishes Guidance On Testing for Flu, COVID-19

The CDC recently updated its online guidance about viral testing of patients with acute respiratory illness. Click below to read a full summary in the December 19^th ACP Internist Weekly

Practical Immunization Microlearning Resources from the American College of Physicians

Access the following new mobile-friendly microlearning resource for guidance on respiratory virus season

For more adult immunization resources, visit acponline.org/ai

Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report (CDC FluView)

Key Points

Seasonal influenza activity is elevated in most parts of the country, with the southeast, south-central, and west coast areas of the country reporting the highest level of activity.
Outpatient reparatory illness is above baseline nationally for the sixth consecutive week
Number of weekly flu hospital admissions continues to increase

CDC: Progress in Immunization Safety Monitoring — Worldwide, 2020–2022

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a new case-based vaccine safety monitoring indicator: one or more serious adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) per 1 million total population per year.
Case-based reporting promotes timely AEFI detection, reporting, investigation, and response by national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and national expanded programs on immunization (EPIs).
Improving case-based data sharing globally can provide valuable insights into trends and regional characteristics of serious AEFI.
This study found that national AEFI surveillance systems increasingly support the timely use and sharing of case-based immunization safety data, but work is still needed to strengthen global vaccine safety monitoring.

Use of Inactivated Polio Vaccine Among U.S. Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2023

Previous Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for adult polio vaccination were limited to adults known to be at increased risk for exposure.
On June 21, 2023, ACIP voted to recommend that all U.S. adults aged ≥18 years who are known or suspected to be unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated against polio complete a primary polio vaccination series with IPV.
Fully vaccinated adults at increased risk for poliovirus exposure may receive a single lifetime booster dose of IPV.
This report summarizes evidence considered for this recommendation and provides clinical guidance for the use of IPV in adults.

QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Received an Influenza Vaccination During the Past 12 Months, by Sex and Race and Ethnicity — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2022

In 2022, among persons aged ≥18 years, women were more likely than were men (49.2% versus 41.1%) to have received an influenza vaccination during the past 12 months. Women were more likely than were men to have received an influenza vaccination among Asian (61.0% versus 50.7%), Black (40.6% versus 30.1%), Hispanic (43.5% versus 35.9%), and White (51.5% versus 43.4%) adults. Among men, Black adults were the least likely to have received an influenza vaccination during the past 12 months compared with Asian, Hispanic, and White adults. Among women, Black and Hispanic adults were less likely to have received an influenza vaccination during the past 12 months than were Asian and White adults.

Read the Full'Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report'

Announcements

As we usher in the festive season and bid farewell to another remarkable year, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to all our I Raise the Rates readers. Wishing you all a safe and joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!