Influenza is spreading and very serious; please keep vaccinating your patients

Flu cases are widespread in the state of Maine. We are currently seeing a large surge of flu cases and the cases are more severe than in past years. In an effort to slow the spread of illness, the Maine Immunization Program strongly recommends that everyone 6 months and older get their yearly flu vaccine. It is not too late! 

 Key Reminders:

• Routine annual flu vaccination is recommended for all persons ≥ 6 months of age.
• CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu.
• Vaccination of high-risk people is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
• Vaccination is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high-risk people to keep from spreading the flu.
• People can spread the flu even before symptoms are present, so it is especially important to wash hands frequently.

For more information and for print materials, please click here.

2018 Vaccine Storage & Handling Toolkit 

The CDC’s Vaccine and Handling Toolkit has just been updated for 2018. The toolkit is designed to help health care providers find the information they need quickly and easily. 

The Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit reflects best practices for vaccine storage and handling from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, product information from vaccine manufacturers, and scientific studies.

To view or print, click here. 

Wastage Reasons for Reconciliation 

Do you need help with your wastage and reconciliation? Click here for a handout that explains appropriate wastage reasons when reconciling your vaccine. 

Two Dose Flu Recommendations for Children 6 months through 8 years 

Children 6 months through 8 years getting vaccinated for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine this season. All children who have previously gotten two doses of vaccine (at any time) only need one dose of vaccine this season. 

The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose.

Click here to determine the number of doses of influenza to give to children 6 months through 8 years.

Shingrix Webinar Save the Date

Please save the date for a webinar on the new Shingrix vaccine and ACIP recommendations, presented by the Maine Immunization Program’s Health Educator, Ashley Levesque. The webinar is scheduled for Friday, February 23rd from 1 – 2 pm. We will send login information closer to the date of the webinar.

Required Annual Training 

As a reminder, all provider sites are required to complete annual continuing education as per the yearly Provider Agreement. The options for completing annual continuing education are as follows:

New Primary and Secondary Vaccine Coordinators who have never completed the You Call The Shots modules, must complete both of the following:

1.) Storage and Handling – You Call The Shots online module, click here.       

2.) Vaccines for Children – You Call The Shots online module, click here.

Primary and Secondary Vaccine Coordinators who have completed both modules in a previous year will only need to do one of the following:

1.) Complete the updated Storage & Handling – You Call The Shots online module, click here.

2.) Attend a VFC regional training presented by the Maine Immunization Program.

3.) Participate in a VFC Compliance Site Visit in 2018.

4.) Attend a training from Maine Health (only for Providers affiliated with Maine Health).

Be sure to email or fax your certificate of completion to the Maine Immunization Program to receive credit. 

Fax: (207) 287-8127 or Email us.

The U.S. CDC publishes ACIP recommendations on third dose of MMR during mumps outbreak

During a mumps outbreak, ACIP recommended a third dose of MMR vaccine for high-risk individuals previously vaccinated with 2 doses. High risk individuals are those who are more likely to have prolonged or intense exposure to droplets or saliva from a person infected with mumps, such as through close contact or sharing of drinks or utensils.This recommendation supplements the existing ACIP recommendations for mumps vaccination.

Click here for more information.