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Welcome to the Vaccines for Respiratory Illnesses Newsletter! Here you'll find the latest news and information on respiratory illness vaccine related topics.
- Latest News
- Clinical Updates
- Training and Events
- Resources
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Respiratory illness season is underway, but it isn’t too late to be a flu vaccine champion! National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is December 2-6 and highlights the importance of flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, especially those at higher risk from serious flu complications, like pregnant people and young children. Flu activity usually peaks between December and February. Now is the time to remind patients, audiences, coworkers, and friends to get an annual flu vaccine.
Need a little inspiration? Check out the Department of Health (DOH) talking points, educational materials, and communication templates that cover flu vaccine and other respiratory illnesses:
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A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months of age and older should receive an annual flu vaccination with rare exceptions. Individuals who can't get the flu shot include:
- Children younger than 6 months, since they are too young to get a flu shot.
- Individuals with severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient (other than egg proteins) in the vaccine. This might include gelatin, antibiotics, or other ingredients.
- Beginning with the 2023-2024 season, people with egg allergy may receive any flu vaccine (egg-based or non-egg-based) that is otherwise appropriate for their age and health status. Read more about flu vaccines and people with egg allergies.
These individuals should talk with their doctor before getting the flu shot if they:
- Have had a severe allergy to any of the ingredients in a dose of flu vaccine.
- Have had .
- Are not feeling well.
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The schedules summarize final recommendations previously made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and made official by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director. The 2025 schedules were approved by ACIP and adopted by the CDC Director on October 24, 2024, and subsequently approved by several professional organizations.
CDC’s goal is for the schedules to provide the public, health care providers, and programs with clear, concise, and up-to-date immunization information. These tools help ensure immunizations are timely, effective, and given safely.
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As of November 10, 2024, only 30% of nursing home residents had received a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Among residents at nursing home facilities that elected to report vaccination against influenza (59% of facilities) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (52% of facilities), 58% had received influenza vaccination, and only 18% had received RSV vaccination.
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On November 22, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) (H5N1 bird flu) in a child in the United States. The child, who lives in California, experienced mild symptoms and is recovering from their illness. There is no indication of person-to-person spread associated with the virus.
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In Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, nirsevimab was 89% effective in preventing RSV-associated hospitalization for infants in their first RSV season and 76% and 88% effective against medically attended illness for children in their first and second seasons, respectively.
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Public Health Message: Influenza activity is increasing slightly among children but remains low nationally. View the CDC's current week summary here: https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/index.html
- Week 44, ending November 2, 2024, the CDC reported the first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2024-2025 season, and an additional death that occurred during the 2023-2024 season, bringing last season's total to 204 influenza-associated pediatric deaths.
- During week 46, ending November 16, 2024, the CDC reported the second pediatric death associated with seasonal influenza occurring during the 2024-2025 season.
Since week 40 of 2024, Washington reported its first Reported Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza-Associated Death in a person aged 65+. No pediatric deaths have been reported so far for the 2024-2025 season. View the current Washington State Influenza Update here: Washington State Influenza Update.
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Immunize.org updated Standing Orders for Administering Pneumococcal Vaccines to Adults. The template adheres to the October 2024 recommendations for routine vaccination of adults with a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) beginning at age 50. It also follows new CDC guidance that eliminates the option for adults with a history of PCV13 and/or PPSV23 to follow up with a dose of PPSV23.
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With the holidays quickly approaching, please be mindful of shipping delays, limited or no shipping days, and plan your vaccine orders accordingly. December 10th is the last day you can submit a vaccine order to receive the delivery before January. Please note that there will be no vaccine deliveries made during the week of Christmas and New Year's. You can place an order off your typical schedule if needed. Please ensure your accountability reports are up to date prior to placing orders to ensure expedited processing. It's also a good idea to update your shipping hours in your provider agreement if needed. Check out the holiday shipping calendar on our website for more information.
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The Washington State Department of Health is hosting a Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Updates Webinar on Thursday, December 5th at 12:00PM.
This webinar will cover:
- Clinical manifestation and treatment of whooping cough
- Vaccine recommendations for whooping cough
- Whooping cough coverage in Washington state
- Whooping cough surveillance in Washington state
Health care providers, pharmacists/pharmacy techs, school nurses, and anyone else interested in this topic are invited to attend. The webinar will be recorded and continuing education (CE) credits are available for nurses and medical assistants. We are in the process of applying for CEs for pharmacists/pharmacy techs. We hope you will be able to join us!
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The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will present a 1-hour webinar titled Preventing the Next Pandemic: Why It Is Important to Know the Origin of SARS-CoV-2 at 9 AM PST on December 4, 2024. Part of its Current Issues in Vaccines series, the webinar will feature Paul Offit, MD, director of the VEC. Free continuing education credits (CME, CEU, and CPE) will be available for both the live and archived events.
Educational objectives:
- Interpret and employ new or updated vaccine information.
- Discuss vaccine-related information with patients and their families.
- Provide science-based resources to patients and their families who are seeking additional information.
- Discuss the origins of SARS-CoV-2.
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FOR SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES
FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
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If you aren't already signed up for Vaccines for Respiratory Illnesses Newsletter, please visit the Department of Health's email subscribers page here. Once you enter your email, on the next page expand the Immunization topic, select Vaccines for Respiratory Illnesses Newsletter, and click submit.
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This newsletter summarizes content beginning the week of November 17th, 2024 and was sent out on December 2, 2024. |
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