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Call for nominations!
We are searching for the next Kansas Immunization Champion and need help. If you know someone in your community who is fostering immunizations, please help us honor and recognize their efforts!
The Immunization Champion Award recognizes individuals who are working at the local level and is hosted by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM). The award honors those doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster immunization in their community for children and adults. Anyone can nominate an Immunization Champion. Champions are selected by their local or state immunization programs, who evaluate nominees by the following criteria: leadership, collaboration, innovation and/or advocacy.
Nominations must be submitted by June 2, 2025, and should be submitted on the AIM website at: Immunization Champion Awards - Association of Immunization Managers.
Who is eligible?
- Healthcare professionals (i.e., pharmacists, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants)
- Nonprofit Leaders
- Community activists
- Parents
- School and education leaders
- Coalition members
- Community-based organization members
- Immunization partners
Who is ineligible?
- Immunization program managers
- County, state, and federal government employees paid by state or federal immunization funding
- Individuals who have been affiliated with and/or employed by pharmaceutical companies
- Individuals who have already received the award
- Groups – the award is only for individuals
Visit the AIM website to learn more about the Immunization Champion Award and stay up to date with announcements. If you have any questions, please email info@immunizationmanagers.org.
Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults (VFA) enrolled providers are required to recertify annually. Recertification is completed electronically in KSWebIZ by the primary or back up VFC/VFA contact or the signing physician (Medical Director). The recertification process includes reviewing clinic staff information, updating the number of patients served by the facility, reviewing the program requirements, and finally signing the agreement.
Recertification will begin on April 14, 2025, and will remain open through May 2, 2025.
What can you do to expedite your annual recertification?
First, ensure that all VFC/VFA contacts within your facility (including the primary, backup, and secondary, if applicable) have completed the required 2025 You Call the Shots training courses and have uploaded the completion certificates into KSWebIZ. This was announced in the January 29, 2025, issue of What's Happening Wednesday.
Next, verify that contact information for the medical director, primary, backup, and secondary (if applicable) contacts are up to date in KSWebIZ.
Finally, ensure all prescribing staff members are listed as physician contacts in KSWebIZ, and their information is correct. Assuring this is done will allow for accurate information and will expedite the recertification process.
Please contact your Regional Immunization Nurse or Nurse On-Call at 877-296-0464 if you have any additional questions.
Additional Resources:
VFC VFA Provider Enrollment Instructions
VFC VFA Provider Enrollment Checklist
KSWebIZ Eligibility Category Patient Count Report
On March 21, 2025, KDHE issued a KS-HAN to providers and local health departments of the updated measles vaccine guidance to counties with confirmed measles cases and bordering counties.
For Kansas counties with confirmed measles cases and their bordering counties:
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Infants 6 months through 11 months should receive an early dose of MMR vaccine. This early dose is for protection from measles and does not count as a valid dose for school entry.
- Infants who receive an early dose of MMR will receive a total of 3 doses.
- Subsequent doses should follow CDC’s recommended childhood schedule:
- Second dose at 12 through 15 months of age.
- Final dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
The early vaccination guidance is for MMR vaccine only and does not include MMRV, which contains varicella. The MMRV vaccine is not approved for infants younger than 12 months.
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Children older than 12 months who have not been vaccinated should receive one dose immediately and follow with a second dose at lease 28 days later. No third dose is needed.
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Children older than 12 months of age with one prior dose should receive an early second dose of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
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Teenagers and adults previously vaccinated with one dose of MMR should receive a second dose.
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Those with no evidence of immunity should receive one dose of MMR vaccine immediately and follow with a second dose at least 28 days later.
For Kansas counties not experiencing an outbreak and not adjacent to one, providers should continue to follow the CDC’s routine immunization schedule, which recommends the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your Regional Immunization Nurse or the Nurse On-Call at 877-296-0464.
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 March 29, ILINet sites reported 2% of visits were due to ILI.
Syndromic surveillance indicated that 2% of emergency departments visits in Kansas were due to ILI. All data is subject to change. Influenza activity across the state is currently considered minimal.
During the week ending March 29, the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories reported three positive influenza A/H1 specimens and one positive influenza A/H3 specimen. 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.
We are excited to offer an amazing opportunity: 340B University will be held in person in Kansas City on May 28, 2025. Attendance is free; you only need to arrange transportation. Everyone involved in the 340B program is welcome to attend.
Please note that the 340B Grantees Spring Conference follows the training, but attendance at the conference is not required. However, the conference does have a registration fee.
Space is limited, so if you wish to attend the university, please enroll here.
Click here to view the shipping calendar for the month of May.
Register here for The Future of Public Health: Voices from the Next Generation which will be held April 9, 2025, at 3 p.m. CST
Register here for Empowering Communities: Guidance on KYR in Protected Areas & NILC Office Hours which will be held April 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. CST
Register here for The Art of HIV and STI Prevention: Update from the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) which will be held April 15, 2025, at 11 a.m. CST
Check out our full training list.
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