I Raise the Rates! February 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.

Free Coaching Opportunity

Apply Now to Join I Raise the Rates

Apply now for the opportunity to receive free coaching to Increase Adult and Influenza Immunization Rates

ACP is recruiting internal medicine and subspecialty practices and residency groups to participate in the I Raise the Rates quality improvement programs to increase influenza and adult immunization rates. ACP’s I Raise the Rates program, which is supported by funding from CDC, provides free QI education and virtual coaching support from ACP Advance expert coaches to increase adult immunization coverage. The program also offers access to a virtual learning community, tailored educational offerings, including free registration to QI precourse at the 2024 ACP Internal Medicine meeting in Boston, MA as well as opportunity to earn CME and MOC for program participants.

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Internal Medicine Physicians Emphasize Importance of Following Evidence-Based Guidance to Control Measles Outbreaks

ACP is concerned by reports of recent measles outbreaks in the U.S. and the spread of misinformation about vaccination guidelines.

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

Key Points

Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally with increases in some parts of the country.
Key flu indicators have decreased or remained stable nationally for three weeks. CDC will continue to monitor for a second period of increased influenza activity that often occurs after the winter holidays
Outpatient respiratory illness has been above baseline nationally since November and is above baseline in all 10 HHS regions.
The number of weekly flu hospital admissions remained stable compared to last week but have been showing a decreasing trend since Week 1.
CDC estimates that there have been at least 25 million illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations, and 17,000 deaths from flu so far this season.

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COVID-19 Vaccination and Boosting During Pregnancy Protects Infants for Six Months

Women who receive an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination or booster during pregnancy can provide their infants with strong protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection for at least six months after birth, according to a study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. These findings, published in Pediatrics, reinforce the importance of receiving both a COVID-19 vaccine and booster during pregnancy to ensure that infants are born with robust protection that lasts until they are old enough to be vaccinated.

Older Adults Now Able to Receive Additional Dose of Updated COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for adults ages 65 years and older to receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness.