The 28th Annual Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference will be held as a hybrid conference on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The in-person conference will be held at the DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts. Click here to visit the conference website.

Each year, the Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) recognizes Massachusetts individuals or groups which have made an outstanding contribution to pediatric immunization in Massachusetts. The recipient of this award is an individual or an organization that has demonstrated leadership, initiative, innovation, collaboration and/or advocacy. The MIAP Conference Organizing Committee is seeking nominations for this year’s award.

The award will be presented on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, during the 28th Annual MIAP Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference.

Click here to download a nomination form. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, September 8, 2023.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).

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 Beyfortus^TM, 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.

CDC recommends one dose of nirsevimab for all infants younger than 8 months, born during – or entering – their first RSV season (typically fall through spring). For a small group of children between the ages of 8 and 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease, such as children who are severely immunocompromised, a dose is recommended in their second season.

ACIP voted to include nirsevimab in the Vaccines for Children program, which provides recommended vaccines and immunizations at no cost to about half of the nation’s children. CDC is currently working to make nirsevimab available through the Vaccines for Children program. Healthcare providers will be a key partner in CDC’s outreach efforts. Additional clinical guidance and healthcare provider education material will be provided by CDC in the coming months.

Click here to read the full CDC press release.

Updates will circulated as they become available.

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held each August to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for people of all ages.

You play a critical role in cultivating an "Immunity Community." The following NIAM resources can be helpful for you and your organization, not only during NIAM, but also throughout the year:

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

Be on the lookout for NIAM updates throughout August.

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

Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW). NHCW celebrates and increases awareness of America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers (CHCs), and is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of Community Health Center staff, board members, and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to more than 30 million patients across 14,500 communities annually. This year's NHCW theme is "Community Health Centers: The Roadmap to a Stronger America."

The Healey Administration has proclaimed the week of August 6-12 to be Massachusetts Health Center Week. Click here to read more.

During NHCW, the Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) recognized Massachusetts Community Health Centers for their dedication to keeping Massachusetts communities healthy.

Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for more information about NHCW.

If your site requires additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine prior to commercialization, please reach out to provider sites in your area or network that may be able to supply your site with the requested doses. If your site needs assistance with identifying available doses in your area , please contact the Vaccine Management Unit at 617-983-6828 or dph-vaccine-management@mass.gov. Please ensure that anytime your site is transferring vaccines to another location, you are following all guidance detailed in the Vaccine Transport SOP.

Reference: MDPH Covid-19 Provider Bulletin, August 8, 2023

As of May 10, according to CDC data, only 11% of children ages 2-4 years had received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine and only 0.6% had received at least one bivalent dose. Among children under 2 years, 9% have had at least one dose and 0.6% have had a bivalent dose. Efforts to simplify the COVID-19 vaccine schedule continue as this may lead to more children getting vaccinated. The ACIP COVID-19 vaccine work group indicated support for a single, potentially annual dose for children ages 2 years and older; however, this would require additional regulatory action and discussion.

It is expected that even after the transition to commercialization, the COVID-19 vaccine will be available at no out-of-pocket cost for those insured (including Medicaid and Medicare), and for children eligible for the VFC program. The CDC is preparing for commercialization of COVID vaccines this fall and expects to publish guidance for partners this summer.

Recently, the FDA requested that omicron XBB.1.5, the most commonly circulating strain of COVID-19, be contained in a new monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. Authorization of this vaccine is expected in the next few months. At that time, CDC would make recommendations on who should get it and how many doses would be needed.

Reference:

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Immunization Initiatives newsletter, July 2023

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

Recently Published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

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This MCAAP partner program will address the specific needs and concerns of Massachusetts communities to support students, educators and families in "Going Back to School Healthy." Click here for more information and to register for the program.

The meeting will be hybrid. The in-person meeting will be held at Massachusetts Medical Society, Waltham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information.

The meeting will be hybrid. The in-person meeting will be held at Massachusetts Medical Society, Waltham, Massachusetts. If you are interested in attending the meeting or have questions, please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).

The meeting will be virtual. Click here to register to attend the meeting. Please contact Amy Sgueglia with questions (amy_sgueglia@jsi.com).

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

The conference will be hybrid. Click here to visit the conference website.

Click here to access the webinar recording and resources.

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

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