MCAAP Immunization Initiative Update
July 2022
|
|
MCAAP Appoints
Lloyd D. Fisher, MD, FAAP,
Immunization Initiative Medical Director
The Massachusetts Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) is pleased to announce that Lloyd Fisher, MD, FAAP, will be joining the MCAAP Immunization Initiative as Medical Director. Dr. Fisher will assume this role beginning July 1, 2022.
Dr. Fisher brings decades of experience and passion to this role. He is currently Associate Medical Director for Informatics at Reliant Medical Group, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School. In addition to a wealth of knowledge and clinical experience in pediatric immunization, Dr. Fisher has been a leader in the MCAAP in many roles, most recently as MCAAP President. He also has worked closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), is a member of the Massachusetts Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council (MVPAC); and has collaborated with other stakeholders to advance the optimal immunization of Massachusetts’ children.
Dr. Fisher assumes this role following the retirement of Sean Palfrey, MD, FAAP, Founder and Director of the Immunization Initiative. Dr. Palfrey served as Director for more than 25 years and among other achievements, played an instrumental role in the successful passing of the Vaccine Trust Fund bill. This bill restored Massachusetts as a universal supplier of vaccines for children through 18 years of age and secured permanent funding for the Massachusetts Immunization Information System. The MCAAP and the Immunization Initiative are grateful to Dr. Palfrey for his tireless dedication, through advocacy, collaboration, and education, to ensuring that Massachusetts’ children are fully immunized against vaccine preventable diseases.
|
|
COVID-19 Vaccines Update
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children
On June 18, 2022, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to recommend the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for young children. A short time later, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed the recommendation.
- A two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series (25ug) is recommended for children ages 6 months – 5 years, under the EUA issued by FDA
- Two doses of 25ug Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, 28 days apart
- A three-dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine series (3ug each) is recommended for children ages 6 month – 4 years, under the EUA issued by FDA
- Three doses of 3ug Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, 21 days between dose 1 and 2 and at least 8 weeks between dose 2 and 3
On June 23, 2022, the ACIP voted unanimously to recommend that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine be used as an option for children ages 6 through 17 years, in addition to its already recommended use in children 6 months through 5 years and adults 18 years and older. On June 24 CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed the recommendation.
V-safe Reminder
Parents and guardians can easily enroll their children in the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker. V-safe provides personalized and confidential health check-ins via text messages and web surveys so that enrolled COVID-19 vaccine recipients can quickly and easily share with CDC how they feel after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
The information collected by the tracker is an important tool as it helps CDC monitor and communicate about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in near real time. Click here to access instructions for adding a dependent in V-safe that can be shared with parents and guardians. Click here to access V-safe information sheets in multiple languages.
HHS Launches We Can Do This Campaign
The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) COVID-19 public education campaign, We Can Do This, recently launched its Pediatricians and Family Physicians Toolkit. The toolkit i ncludes a sample letter to parents, clinician talking points, posters and flyers than can be hung in exam and waiting rooms, as well as digital communications such as social media posts and sample text messages. The toolkit is also available in Spanish.
MDPH/MCAAP Communication (6/23/22)
On June 23, MDPH and the MCAAP sent a letter to pediatric and family medicine physicians and providers, noting that now that COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for children 6 months of age and older, provider participation in the COVID-19 vaccination process is vital. Some vaccination options available to older pediatric patients, such as pharmacies, will not be available to the infant population, so it is critically important to offer the vaccine in the primary care setting to this very young age group
The letter includes administration guidance, and resources and links for providers to utilize to incorporate COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization protocols.
Visit the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for additional COVID-19 vaccines resources.
|
|
Resource Spotlight - COVID-19 Vaccines
American Academy of Pediatrics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Immunize.org
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
|
|
Provider Education and Meetings
CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call
(recorded 6/22/22)
Recommendations for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series in Children 6 Months through 5 Years Old
The call recording and presentation slides can be found here. Continuing education credit is designated for completing the call recording.
Thursday, July 14, 2022, 11:00-12:15 PM
MDPH/MCAAP
How You Can Become A Vaccine Champion: Strategies to Improve Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines
Kimberly Daly, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Estevan Garcia, MD, DrPH, MPA. Click here for more information and to register. Continuing education credit will not be available for attending this meeting. The meeting will be repeated on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.
Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 3:00-4:15 PM
MDPH/MCAAP
How You Can Become A Vaccine Champion: Strategies to Improve Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines
Kimberly Daly, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Estevan Garcia, MD, DrPH, MPA. Click here for more information and to register. Continuing education credit will not be available for attending this meeting.
Thursday, September 8, 2022, 12:00-1:00 PM
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series
2022-2022 Influenza Season Update
Lisa Grohskopf, MD, MPH, Medical Officer, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will present. Continuing education credit will be offered. Click here for more information and to register.
Save the Date!
Monday, October 17, 2022, 6:30 PM
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Advisory Committee Meeting
Updated information will be circulated as it becomes available.
Save the Date!
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
27th Annual Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference
This year's conference will held as a hybrid event (in-person and virtual). Updated information will be circulated as it becomes available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
