Tools to Guide the Conversation About Vaccinations

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) and it is a great time for adults to make sure they are up to date on recommended vaccines. As a trusted healthcare provider, you can help patients understand the value of vaccination and provide recommendations about which vaccines are needed. Get the conversation started with the CDC's 5 Reasons It Is Important for Adults to Get Vaccinated, and check out its key strategies for making vaccine recommendations.

White House Forms New Pandemic Preparedness and Response Office

The White House recently launched the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, which will coordinate the Administration’s domestic response to public health threats that have pandemic potential and strengthen domestic pandemic preparedness. Read the Fact Sheet.

COVID-19 ED Visits and Hospitalizations Increase

While COVID-19 death rates have plateaued, hospitalizations have increased 12.5% . COVID-19 ED visits have also increased 21.8% from prior week. Vaccination remains a vital tool to protect public health. One dose of the updated (bivalent) vaccine is required for individuals to be considered up to date.

You can make a difference. Help keep your community safe and healthy. Assess and offer vaccines at every encounter.

Medicare Now Covers More Vaccines

In the past, Medicare covered flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines, and pneumococcal shots. As of January 1, 2023, Medicare Part D now covers these additional vaccines and more at no out-of-pocket cost and nothing applied to deductibles:

• Shingles
• RSV
• Tetanus/diphtheria (Td)
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) (Tdap)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B, for those at low risk for the virus

Upcoming Education

Opioid Stewardship Affinity Group

Monday, August 14 11 am - 12 pm ET

Participants will share best practices, resources and solutions to challenges involved in initiating or expanding a hospital Opioid Stewardship program. Subject matter experts will be on hand to share their success strategies.

Geriatric Boot Camp Kick-Off

Tuesday, August 15 12 - 1 pm ET

We're kicking off a 14-week series that will focus on review of common conditions causing hospital readmissions in short-term rehabilitation patients and long-term care residents.

IP3 - Infection Prevention for Infection Preventionists by an Infection Preventionist

Thursday, August 17 11 - 11:30 am ET

Join our weekly office hours to share experiences, ideas and solutions to common issues.

LINKS: Supporting Communities with Opioids and Pain Management

Thursday, August 17 3 - 4 pm ET

Community-based programs in Ohio, Maryland, and Maine will share their successful approaches to supporting communities with opioids and pain management through harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.