Dear coalition members, 
 

Happy New Year! I hope everyone is doing well.  Below is a compilation of recent news, educational opportunities, and resources for adult vaccination.    

If you have an additional news, an educational opportunity, or resource you'd like to see on this list, or if you have a question, please reach out to me at amy_sgueglia@jsi.com.  Looking for a back issue of these emails?  These emails are being archived on the Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition Website.  

Take care, 

Amy Sgueglia
Coalition Facilitator
 

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IMMUNIZATION NEWS

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Multiple Actions to Expand Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to:

• Expand the use of a single booster dose to include use in individuals 12 through 15 years of age.
• Shorten the time between the completion of primary vaccination of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months.
• Allow for a third primary series dose for certain immunocompromised children 5 through 11 years of age.

“Throughout the pandemic, as the virus that causes COVID-19 has continuously evolved, the need for the FDA to quickly adapt has meant using the best available science to make informed decisions with the health and safety of the American public in mind,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “With the current wave of the omicron variant, it’s critical that we continue to take effective, life-saving preventative measures such as primary vaccination and boosters, mask wearing and social distancing in order to effectively fight COVID-19.”

For the full press release, please visit the FDA website.  
 

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MDPH Weekly Influenza Update - 12/31/2021

Please click HERE to access the report.

Please clinic HERE to access previous reports from the 2021 - 2022 Flu Season.
 

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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 

Title: Communication/Motivational Interviewing Skills to Address Vaccine Hesitancy Training

Dates:
January 14th, 2022, 12:00-1:30 PM ET
January 21st, 2022, 12:00-1:30 PM ET
February 11th, 2022. 12:00-1:30 PM ET

This training opportunity is being put on MDPH and PNQIN (Perinatal Neonatal Quality Improvement Network) in partnership with Center for Integrated Primary Care at UMass Chan Medical School as a part of PNQIN's Perinatal COVID-19 Vaccine Initiative. This training is a 90 minute webinar (12-1:30pm EST) designed to improve the counseling skills of Massachusetts clinicians for discussing COVID-19 vaccination with pregnant and postpartum people, parents and caregivers of young children, and families. The training will also focus on addressing vaccine hesitancy and reducing racial disparities in rates of COVID-19 vaccination.
 
While this training is geared toward clinicians, anyone can benefit and therefore you do not have to be a clinician to attend.
   

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Title: Engaging Rural Pharmacies to Increase Vaccine Access and Confidence

Date: January 18th, 2022, 2:00 PM ET

Save the date for AIM’s next vaccine confidence webinar on Tuesday, January 18 at 2 PM ET. AIM’s January webinar - Engaging Rural Pharmacies to Increase Vaccine Access and Confidence, features Dr. Laura Lee Hall from the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity. Dr. Hall will present the flu and COVID-19 vaccine DRIVE (Demonstrating Real Improvement in Value and Equity) Toolkit for use in rural settings and pharmacies.  Additionally, pharmacist Dr. Amy Nicholas will share the ImmYounity module for pharmacists in having vaccine conversations with patients. Through presentations and an interactive Q&A panel, Immunization Programs will learn best practices for bridging access gaps in rural communities to build vaccine confidence  

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IMMUNIZATION RESOURCES

Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases: 14th Edition