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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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National Kidney Month, observed every March, brings awareness to kidney health and encourages people to support kidney disease research and take steps to keep their own kidneys safe and healthy. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 1 in 7 American adults and is the 9th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Vaccines are important to help prevent serious diseases in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), those on dialysis, and immunocompromised people, such as kidney transplant recipients.
How well a vaccine works depends on your immune system. People with a weakened immune system are at the highest risk of developing serious illnesses. However, a weakened immune system can also make some vaccines slightly less effective. That is why people with weakened immune systems may need higher doses or extra doses of some vaccines.
A person can have a weakened immune system for several reasons, such as being over 65, being on dialysis for a long time, chemotherapy, and those who are on anti-rejection drugs, such as kidney or other solid organ transplants. Immunosuppression is not the same for everyone. In some people, their level of immunosuppression may be very high, while others may only have a slightly weakened immune system.
People who are immunocompromised, for example, kidney transplant recipients, should not get live, attenuated vaccines. These include:
- Nasal flu vaccines (nose spray), which include live attenuated influenza. A vaccine shot is recommended instead of the nose spray.
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Yellow fever
People who have advanced CKD or kidney failure (on dialysis) can usually get the above live vaccines.
If you have chronic kidney disease, are on dialysis, or have received a kidney transplant, it’s important to know which vaccines are best for you. Always ask your health care provider before getting a vaccine and tell the vaccine provider if you are on dialysis, have received a kidney or other organ transplant, or have had a serious reaction to a vaccine in the past.
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A: It is very confusing. If you were born:
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Before 1957: You didn’t get a vaccine and do not need one. Measles was widespread then; most people were naturally exposed and are assumed immune. The exception: health care personnel born before 1957 who lack laboratory evidence of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease should consider MMR vaccination.
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Between 1957 and 1963: No MMR vaccine was available. But you still need to be vaccinated.
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Between 1963 and 1989: Vaccines were available, and you most likely got one dose. You don’t need another dose unless you got the inactivated vaccine OR you are high risk (e.g., work in health care, college student, international travelers, close contacts of immunocompromised people). There is no recommendation for a catch-up program among adults for a second dose of MMR (e.g., people born before 1989 or otherwise).
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Live-attenuated measles vaccine became available in the U.S. in 1963. An ineffective, inactivated measles vaccine was also available in the U.S. in 1963–1967. Adults who received a dose of measles vaccine in 1963–1967 and are unsure which type of vaccine it was, or are sure it was inactivated measles vaccine, should be revaccinated with one or two doses of MMR vaccine.
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After 1989: You likely got two doses.
What you should do: Look at your vaccine records. If you can’t find them, you should be vaccinated. Or, at the very least, talk to your physician. Sign up for MyIR Mobile at myirmobile.com to view and print your (and your family's) immunization information. Here are Tips for Locating Old Immunization Records.
MMR efficacy against measles: Two doses of measles vaccine are 97% (range: 67% to 100%) effective at preventing measles. One dose is 93% (range: 39% to 100%) effective at preventing measles. The MMR vaccine works incredibly well—you’re 35 times less likely to get measles than someone with no immunity.
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On March 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Expanding Measles Outbreak in the United States and Guidance for the Upcoming Travel Season. CDC issued this HAN to notify clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about a measles outbreak that originated in Texas and New Mexico and offer guidance for prevention and monitoring.
Recommendations for Health Care Professionals
Ensure all patients without other evidence of immunity, especially those planning international travel, are up to date on MMR vaccine per routine Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations:
- Children are recommended to receive 2 doses of MMR. The first dose is given at 12–15 months of age and the second is given at 4–6 years of age before school entry.
- Infants 6 months of age or older can receive MMR prior to international travel or in outbreak settings (see below). MMR is not licensed for children <6 months of age.
- Adults not at high risk of exposure are recommended to have at least 1 documented dose of MMR in their lifetime, or other evidence of immunity (e.g., positive measles immunoglobulin G (IgG)). Adults at high exposure risk, including students at post-secondary institutions, healthcare workers, and international travelers, should have two documented doses.
Ensure all U.S. residents older than age 6 months without evidence of immunity who are traveling internationally receive MMR vaccine prior to departure:
- Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before departure. Infants who receive a dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should receive 2 more doses of MMR vaccine; the first of which should be administered when the child is 12 through 15 months of age and the second at least 28 days later (generally at age 4-6 years of age but can be administered sooner if indicated).
- Children 12 months of age or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
- Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
Be aware that some patients may develop a mild rash reaction in the 3 weeks following MMR vaccination. This does not typically require testing or public health intervention since a person with a rash due to a vaccine reaction is not infectious. If a symptomatic person who has been recently vaccinated also has a known or suspected measles exposure, consultation and additional testing may be required from the local or state health department to evaluate for acute measles.
History of Measles in Washington
As of March 17, 2025, Washington has two confirmed cases of measles this year. The second measles case is linked to the first measles case identified in late February in King County. This new case was likely exposed at a location where the previous case had visited while contagious.
Outbreaks ranging in size from seven to 33 cases occurred in Washington in 2001, 2004, 2008, and 2014. In 2015, one outbreak occurred with six cases, one of which was fatal. In 2019, there were two large outbreaks of measles in addition to four non-outbreak cases, totaling 90 cases.
Since then, Washington has experienced sporadic cases and small outbreaks due to unvaccinated persons being exposed to measles during travel to areas where measles is circulating. There were six confirmed cases of measles in Washington state in 2024. All six cases either had or were linked to international travel. Most cases have been among people 12 months of age or older who had not received measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
To prevent measles infection and spread from imported cases, all U.S. residents should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially before traveling internationally, regardless of the destination.
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Flu vaccine production will not be delayed. On March 13, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made recommendations to vaccine manufacturers for the virus strains to be used in influenza (flu) vaccines for the 2025-2026 U.S. flu season following a thorough and comprehensive review of U.S. and global surveillance data. The FDA does not anticipate any impact on timing or availability of vaccines for the American public. The recommendations are similar to the previous year’s strain selection.
As a result of the meeting with the federal partners, the FDA recommends that the trivalent formulation of egg-based influenza vaccines for the 2025-2026 U.S. influenza season contain the following:
- an A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
The FDA recommends that the trivalent formulation of cell- or recombinant-based influenza vaccines for the 2025-2026 U.S. influenza season contain the following:
- an A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/District of Columbia/27/2023 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
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State Summary for Week 10:
- Influenza-like illness activity was high during week 10.
- To date, 296 lab-confirmed influenza deaths have been reported for the 2024-2025 season.
- To date, 204 influenza-like illness outbreaks in long term care facilities have been reported for the 2024-2025 season.
- During week 10, 4 percent of visits among Influenza-like Illness Network (ILINet) participants were for influenza-like illness, which was above the baseline of 2.1 percent.
- During week 10, 18.7 percent of specimens tested by WHO (World Health Organization) and NREVSS (National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System) collaborating laboratories in Washington were positive for influenza.
- Influenza A and Influenza B were reported to the ILINet surveillance system during week 10.
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This flu season has been one of the worst Washington has ever experienced. While flu activity seems to be decreasing, the number of Washingtonians who have died from flu illness is alarming. In Washington, flu-related deaths have reached their highest level since the 2017-2018 season, with 296 lab-confirmed deaths reported so far in 2024-2025 and over 6 months still left to go in this year’s season.
It’s not too late to get a seasonal flu vaccine. Continue to promote flu vaccination as the best defense against serious illness and hospitalization from flu. It takes two weeks for the flu vaccine to start protecting against serious illness. Now is the time to promote vaccination ahead of school spring breaks and increased travel.
DOH has resources to help you talk about flu vaccination:
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While the onset and duration of RSV season may vary throughout the United States, nirsevimab is typically administered October through the end of March in most of the continental U.S.
Health care providers should stop administering nirsevimab by March 31. Nirsevimab will no longer be available for ordering through the Childhood Vaccine Program after March 14, 2025.
Remaining inventory of nirsevimab is viable until its expiration date. Product should continue to be safely stored refrigerated between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) and can be used when administration resumes next season. More information can be found here: Frequently Asked Questions About RSV Immunization with Monoclonal Antibody for Children 19 Months and Younger | CDC
Nirsevimab (brand name: Beyfortus) is a long-lasting monoclonal antibody product designed to prevent severe illness from RSV in babies and young children with certain risk factors. Protection from nirsevimab lasts for at least five months. The optimal timing for nirsevimab administration is shortly before the RSV season begins (e.g., October–November), or within a baby's first week of life if born October through March (ideally during the birth hospitalization.)
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Do you provide health care to pregnant people in Washington state? Please share your thoughts on vaccination concerns, barriers, and benefits through this 10-minute survey. This survey is being conducted by Vax Northwest (a partnership of Kaiser Permanente Washington, WithinReach, Washington State Department of Health and several other organizations and individuals).
The survey results will inform strategies and efforts related to improving care related to vaccines recommended during pregnancy in Washington state. If you have any technical issues completing this survey, please email us with details at KPWHRI-DOH_Vax@kp.org.
Please share this survey opportunity with other people you know who provide health care to pregnant people in Washington state. The survey will be open until April 7, 2025.
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Immunize.org provides print and video tools to create a positive vaccination experience and ease injection anxiety in children and adults. The web page links to eight printable resources on addressing vaccination anxiety (four for providers, four for recipients), two in-depth webinars, and six brief videos (listed below). As with all Immunize.org resources, these are free to download, link, copy, and share.
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March is Women's History Month! Join Immunize Colorado for a presentation and Question & Answer session with Johanna Richlin, PhD and Temple Moore, MS on March 25, 2025, at 11:00 AM PST.
Dr. Richlin is an assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Maine. She will discuss her research on vaccine-hesitant women and mothers and the relationship between vaccine skepticism and latrogenesis in these groups. Latrogenesis refers to the unintentional causation of an unfavorable health condition during the process of providing medical care. It includes side effects, complications, and adverse drug reactions resulting from medical interventions.
Temple Moore is the Community Health Program Director at the Refugee Women’s Network. She will discuss the barriers to vaccination facing refugee, immigrant, and migrant populations in the community and the successful programs that Refugee Women’s Network developed to empower newcomer women to address those barriers in their own communities.
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We are pleased to invite you to a webinar series bringing DOH's Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic Guide to life, designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills to successfully implement a pop-up vaccination clinic in your local community. Learn from experienced public health professionals who will share their expertise and best practices in establishing effective vaccination clinics.
This series is ideal for health care providers, administrators, and anyone committed to advancing vaccination efforts. Earn valuable CE credits for MAs, nurses, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians, to enhance your professional development. Please see our promotional video here!
Details:
Registration and Continuing Education Credits:
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To obtain a Certificate of Completion or Continuing Education credits, register for the Blended Learning Series and then register for each course (Series 1-4).
To Attend Without Continuing Education Credits:
- Join at noon on the following dates using the individual join links below:
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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 March 9, 2025, and was sent out on March 21, 2025. |
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