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A reminder to all Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers: please ensure all COVID-19 vaccine orders are placed through Shopify. To make things easier, the Kansas Immunization Program has added a bulletin on KSWebIZ’s homepage with a direct link to Shopify.
Please plan ahead as COVID-19 vaccine ordering will be closed during Thanksgiving week. Be sure to submit your orders early to avoid any delays.
Thank you for your cooperation and help. If you have any questions, reach out to your regional immunization nurse or contact the vaccine distribution team.
The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) has released a comprehensive tip sheet to support healthcare providers with the latest CDC adult vaccine recommendations. This valuable resource not only details new vaccine guidelines but also includes tools to help adults catch up on necessary vaccinations, emphasizing the importance of adult immunization.
Key updates from the CDC and the NAIIS tip sheet include:
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Expanded Vaccination Recommendations: New vaccines have been recommended for a broader adult population, particularly those with chronic health conditions that make them more vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Tools to Address Vaccination Gaps: The tip sheet highlights strategies for helping adults catch up on missed vaccines. Alarmingly, three out of four adults are missing one or more vaccines that could prevent serious illnesses. These tools include reminders, patient education materials and best practices for discussing vaccines with patients.
By following these guidelines and utilizing the provided resources, healthcare providers can play a critical role in improving adult vaccination rates and protecting public health in 2024 and beyond.
The Kansas Immunization Program (KIP) provides primary use Digital Data Loggers (DDLs) to all publicly funded vaccine program providers to ensure vaccines are stored and transported at the correct temperatures. Keeping vaccines within the recommended temperature range is critical to maintaining their effectiveness and DDLs play a key role in making that happen.
Why Digital Data Loggers Matter
Vaccines are sensitive to temperature changes, and even slight deviations can affect their potency. This is why the KIP requires all providers to use DDLs for monitoring. DDLs are helpful in many ways including:
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Continuous Monitoring: DDLs track vaccine temperatures in real-time, ensuring any problems are detected right away.
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Highly Accurate: KIP’s DDLs are reliable and meet CDC standards, catching even minor temperature shifts.
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Detailed Records: You can download and review the temperature data to ensure compliance with regulations.
Transporting Vaccines: KIP Approval Required
Before transporting vaccines, especially for more than an hour, it is essential to get approval from the KIP. Vaccines must stay at the correct temperature during transport, and using a DDL ensures that happens.
To transport vaccines safely, use a certified DDL and an appropriate container to maintain the cold chain. Make sure to document the temperature throughout the journey, and always notify your Regional Immunization Nurse before moving vaccines. Failing to follow these steps could compromise the vaccines and result in loss.
By using DDLs and getting the necessary approvals, you are helping protect the effectiveness of vaccines and the health of your community. Thank you for your help.
The Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) sites monitor patients for influenza-like illness (ILI), which is defined as symptoms of a fever (>100⁰F) and the presence of a cough and/or sore throat. During the week ending Oct. 12, ILINet sites reported two percent of visits were due to ILI.
Syndromic surveillance indicated that one percent of emergency departments visits in Kansas were due to ILI. All data is subject to change. Influenza activity across the state is currently minimal. During the week ending Oct. 12, the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories reported no positive influenza specimens.
As a reminder, outbreaks of any disease are reportable and should be reported to the epidemiology hotline at (877) 427-7317. Stay updated on influenza activity on our dashboard.
Register Here for Shining the Light on Tuberculosis at the End of Life which will be held Oct. 24, 2024 at 1 p.m. CDT
Register Here for Large Language Models Use in Tuberculosis which will be held Oct. 25, 2024 at noon. CDT
Register Here for Post TB: from Evaluation to Action which will be held Oct. 28,2024 at 2 p.m. CDT
Check out our full training list.
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