The Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) is excited to announce the 27th Annual Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference.

The conference will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, as a hybrid event - both in-person and virtual participation will be offered. Please note that in-person attendance will be limited and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis.

For complete conference information, please visit the conference website.

Questions? Please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).

Each year, the Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) recognizes Massachusetts individuals or groups that 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 deadline to submit an award nomination is Friday, September 2, 2022. Click here to download a nomination form.

The 2022 MIAP Conference Award will be presented at the 27th Annual MIAP Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference, on October 25, 2022.

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

Presenter: Lisa Grohskopf, MD, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

At the conclusion of the webinar, the participant should be able to:

Click here to register for the September 8 webinar.

Presenters: Elizabeth Russo, MD, MDPH Immunization Division; Richard Moriarty, MD, FAAP, MCAAP

At the conclusion of the webinar, the participant should be able to:

Click here to register for the October 13 webinar.

The target audience includes healthcare professionals who provide immunizations to in Massachusetts, including MCAAP members, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, medical assistants, public health workers, community health center staff, pharmacists and office staff who work in pediatric and adult health care settings.

The Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health is accredited by the Massachusetts Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, designates this Live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Massachusetts Medical Society through the joint providership of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, MA Dept. of Public Health and The MCAAP Immunization Initiative.

This program has been offered by the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. A maximum of 1.0 contact hours for this program will be provided in accordance with the regulations governing continuing education requirements for the following Boards of Registration:

Board of Registration in Nursing (CMR 244 5.00), Board of Registration of Social Workers (258CMR 31.00et seq), Board of Mental Health Professions (262CMR 7.00), Board of Certification of Health Officers (241CMR 4.03), Board of Registration of Sanitarians (255CMR 5.02).

Pharmacists may receive up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ in accordance with 247CMR 4.00.

Contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).

Panel: Lloyd Fisher, MD, FAAP; David Norton, MD, FAAP; Katherine Wu, MD, FAAP; Pejman Talebian, MA, MPH

Moderator: Mary Beth Miotto, MD, MPH, FAAP

MCAAP members will discuss the successes and challenges of administering COVID-19 vaccines to children in their practices. Best practices will be reviewed. Ample time for questions and discussion will be included.

Click here to register for this meeting.

Questions? Please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org)

Integrating some of the evidence we know into our conversations with parents can help us deliver strong recommendations for COVID vaccination for children in our offices. Just as we needed to feel comfortable with HPV vaccine when it was introduced or MMR vaccine when parents were wary, we can use the information on COVID infection in young children and how the vaccine works to explain the benefits of the vaccine, build confidence in it, and offer our support. It’s not a special vaccine. It’s gone through the FDA & CDC review processes and we can normalize it for families if we create standard communication on it. 

We hope this handout helps your staff come up with ways to communicate vaccine confidence to families. We are trusted professionals and our patients can become more comfortable with our strong recommendations for COVID vaccine just as they do for DTaP or polio vaccine. Please give us feedback on how we can improve these or other tools.

Click here for updated AAP Guidance on Providing Pediatric Well-Care During COVID-19.