On April 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccines.

Monovalent Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. Administration of monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines must stop immediately.

Monovalent COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available for ordering in the MIIS. All outstanding orders in the MIIS have been canceled. Further instructions on processing wastage will be forthcoming.

Click here to read the Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Program Bulletin.

On April 19, following Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory action, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.

On April 19, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to discuss these COVID-19 vaccine recommendation changes, and the associated implications and implementation. Although there was no vote at this meeting, ACIP members expressed their support for these recommendations.

Click here to read more.

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 is planned to end on May 11, 2023. The end of the COVID-19 PHE will not have an immediate impact on the ability for enrolled sites to continue to order COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines will still be available to order via the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) for all enrolled sites with a signed Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Program (MCVP) Agreement. The associated Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccine formulations will still be active.

See the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional COVID-19 vaccine resources, including the most recent Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Program Provider Bulletin.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance highlighting the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).

A primary NIIW focus this year is ensuring that families stay on track for their children’s well-child visits and routinely recommended vaccinations. On-time vaccination is critical to provide protection against potentially life-threatening diseases.

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

Hepatitis Awareness Month is an opportunity to promote awareness about viral hepatitis throughout the lifespan and to encourage testing and vaccination. Hepatitis A and B vaccines are available to protect children against two of the common virus types. Click here to access the 2023 childhood/adolescent immunization schedule.

In 2013, Immunize.org launched the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage rates for administering hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Click here to see the Massachusetts Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll honorees. Congratulations to the sixteen Massachusetts institutions which have been named to the honor roll. A special congratulations to Lawrence General Hospital for being recently named to the honor roll for a fifth year!

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

The Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) will be exhibiting at the Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses (MAPHN) Annual Conference on May 4, 2023. If you are attending the conference, please stop by the MVCP Exhibit!

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is sponsoring the 2023 Immunization Champion Award. The Immunization Champion Award recognizes individuals throughout the country who are doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster immunizations in their communities, for both children and adults. AIM will honor up to one Champion from each of the 64 National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) federally funded jurisdictions: 50 U.S. states, 6 major cities, and 8 territories/federated states. The deadline to submit nominations is May 19, 2023. Click here for more information.

On May 4, 2023, AIM will hold a vaccine confidence webinar, "Strengthening Vaccine Confidence: Refreshing Our Conversations about Child and Adolescent Vaccinations."

Click here for more information and to register for the webinar.

The 2023 MDPH Immunization Updates webinars will include a vaccine confidence presentation. On May 24, 2023, Karen Ernst, Co-Founder of Voices for Vaccines, a family-led immunization advocacy organization, will present. Be on the lookout for the link to register for this webinar.

The MVCP published its first newsletter last month. Click here to read the newsletter. Click here to subscribe to future newsletters.

Thank you for all that you do to immunize Massachusetts citizens against vaccine-preventable diseases!

Click here to visit the MVCP website!

MDPH's Weekly Flu report for the week ending April 15, 2023, notes that both locally and nationally seasonal flu activity remains low. For the week ending April 15, the percent of influenza-like illness (ILI) visits was lower than the regional baseline of 2.0%. Outer Metro Boston region reported moderate influenza-like illness (ILI) activity and all other regions reported minimal ILI activity.

See the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter to access the most recent MDPH Weekly Flu Report.

Recently Published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Click here for more information and to register for the webinar. CME-CEU credit will not be offered for this webinar.

The meeting will be virtual. Click here for more information and to register for the meeting.

Click here for the Immunization Updates schedule and topics. Registration for the updates will open soon.

The meeting will be virtual. Click here to register for the meeting.

Registration is not required to attend the meeting virtually. Click here for more information.

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

The meeting will be hybrid. The in-person conference will be held at the DCU Center, Worcester, MA. Conference updates will be posted as they become available.

Click here for more information and to access the activity.

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

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

Click here to visit our website!