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The Kansas Immunization Program is proud to announce that Dr. Nandhini Sehar, pediatrician at Common Spirit Pediatrics, has been selected as the 2026 Immunization Champion for Kansas. This national award is presented by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and honors individuals across 50 U.S. states, eight U.S. territories and freely associated states, five cities, and the District of Columbia that have gone above and beyond to foster and promote immunization in their communities.
Dr. Sehar was nominated and selected from a pool of health professionals, community advocates, and other immunization leaders for making a significant contribution to public health in Kansas.
When families, healthcare professionals, and public health partners work together, communities are better protected from serious and deadly vaccine-preventable diseases. Dr. Sehar exemplifies the dedication and commitment that strengthen immunization efforts across Kansas. We are pleased and honored to congratulate her on this well-deserved award.
To read Dr. Sehar’s profile on the AIM website, and to learn more about AIM’s Immunization Champion Award program, please visit Immunization Champion Awards - Association of Immunization Managers.
On July 14, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an update to the Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit. Proper storage and handling practices are essential to ensure patient safety, prevent loss of vaccine due to spoilage, and vaccine efficacy.
Key updates to this toolkit include:
- Guidance for Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers
- Updated resources
- Details on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for vaccine storage and handling
- Updated guidance on the role of backup vaccine coordinator
- Clarification on vaccine storage and temperature monitoring equipment
- Expanded guidance on inventory management
- Best practices for vaccine preparation
By providing clear guidance on vaccine storage, handling, and transport, this toolkit is an essential resource for all healthcare providers who store and offer vaccines.
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit - July 2026
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit - Resources 2026
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit - Addendum 2026
KSWebIZ Public Portal: Helping Patients Access Their Immunization Records
Did you know that the Kansas Immunization Information System (KSWebIZ) now offers a Public Portal that allows patients to securely access their own immunization records?
The Public Portal gives individuals and families a convenient way to view and download official immunization records without needing to contact your office or the KSWebIZ Helpdesk.
Patients can access the Public Portal here: https://myvaccinerecord.ks.gov/
How You Can Help.
We are asking for your support to help make the Public Portal as effective as possible.
For patients to successfully access their record through the portal, their KSWebIZ record must include:
- A valid email address or
- A current mobile phone number
This contact information is used to verify identity and allow secure access. Without it, patients may not be able to complete the authentication process.
What We’re Asking Providers to Do.
- Encourage patients to use the Public Portal when they need a copy of their immunization record
- Capture and enter a current email address or mobile phone number in KSWebIZ whenever possible
- Review and update existing patient contact information during visits
Even small improvements in contact data can significantly increase successful access rates for patients.
Why This Matters. Accurate contact information not only supports Public Portal access but also improves overall data quality across KSWebIZ. This leads to better patient matching, more complete records, and a smoother experience for both providers and patients.
Need Help or Have Questions? If you have questions about the Public Portal or need assistance updating patient records, please contact the KSWebIZ Helpdesk at: kdhe.ImmunizationRegistry@ks.gov or 1-877-296-0464
The Kansas Immunization Program (KIP) has updated the “Vaccine Compromised During Shipment,” section of the KIP Policy and Procedure Manual to reflect current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and McKesson Central Distribution guidance. This guidance has changed the reporting timeframe for compromised vaccine shipments from within 24 hours to immediately, on the same day the shipment arrives. Failure to contact the central distributor or direct ship manufacture on the same day the vaccine arrives may result in the provider being held responsible for any avoidable vaccine loss.
Vaccine Compromised During Shipment
If it is believed a vaccine shipment was compromised or did not arrive as scheduled, the provider must contact the Regional Immunization Nurse or email KDHE.vaccine@ks.gov immediately.
Providers should also contact:
Centralized distributor shipment: Providers should contact centralized distribution immediately at 1-877-TEMP123 (1-877-836-7123). This must be done on the same day the vaccines are scheduled to arrive. Failure to contact the central distributor on the same day the vaccine arrives may result in the provider being held responsible for any avoidable vaccine loss.
Direct shipment from manufacturer: Providers should contact the manufacturer immediately at cdcshipping.merck.com. Failure to contact the manufacturer on the same day the vaccine arrives may result in the provider being held responsible for any avoidable vaccine loss. The Kansas Immunization Program will work with the manufacturer directly with questions about storage temperature or temperature excursion for specific vaccines. Manufacturers have access to internal thermostability data on the impact of exposure to inappropriate temperatures or light for each vaccine lot.
If you have any questions, please contact kdhe.vaccine@ks.gov.
Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) recently launched new education modules for healthcare providers, parents, and caregivers, along with supporting handouts emphasizing the importance of preventing RSV in infants and adults. Continuing education credit is available for healthcare providers who complete the provider-focused modules.
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Preventing Severe RSV Disease in Adults: Developed for healthcare providers and teams, this module reviews the burden of RSV disease among adults, current vaccination recommendations, and strategies for identifying eligible patients and communicating the value of RSV vaccination. It also includes a patient handout highlighting how the lifetime dose reduces a person’s risk of hospitalization by 75% and protects others who may be vulnerable.
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Preventing Severe RSV in Infants: Designed for healthcare providers who care for infants and young children, this module dives into the importance of preventing severe RSV disease in infants through maternal RSV vaccination and preventive monoclonal antibodies for infants and young children. Learners will explore common recommendations and administration challenges, identify technical errors to avoid, and review practical resources that can help answer questions from both clinicians and parents.
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Preventing RSV Disease in Your Infant: Created for parents and caregivers, this module explains why infant RSV prevention matters and introduces the tools available to reduce a baby’s risk of severe disease, including vaccination during pregnancy and antibody protection for eligible infants. The module also includes a parent-friendly handout outlining the risk of RSV and prevention options.
These modules were created in partnership with Sharon Humiston, MD, FAAP, and are available on IKC’s education modules webpage.
 August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)! Check out IKC’s NIAM resources, and follow and share our social media posts throughout the month.
TB Screening and Referral Updates for Civil Surgeons Aug. 13, 2026 at noon CST.
STI Expert Hour Webinar: Cases from the STI Clinic Aug. 13, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. CST
Stronger Together Against HIV: Co-Infections in HIV Care Aug. 19, 2026 at noon CST.
Click here for our full training list.
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