Happy New Year!
From all of us at the Maine Immunization Program, we would like to wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year!
As a friendly reminder, please remember that the following information must be submitted by January 31, 2020:
Provider agreements will not be approved in July 2020 if the annual education and calibration certificates are not completed/submitted by January 31, 2020.
Please also remember to review your MIP Routine and Emergency Vaccine Storage and Handling Plan and keep a copy on or near your storage units.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
Over 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, but the disease is virtually always preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening (Pap and HPV tests).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccination for 11- and 12-year-old girls and boys, as well as for young women ages 13 through 26 and young men ages 13 through 21 who have not yet been vaccinated. Only 57 percent of adolescent girls and 35 percent of adolescent boys have received the first shot of HPV vaccine in a three-dose series. Those who are not fully vaccinated remain vulnerable to devastating cancers caused by HPV.
For more information, please visit the CDC website or the the National Foundation of Infectious Disease.
U.S. CDC HPV Vaccination Award Champion
The HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion Award, given jointly by CDC, American Cancer Society, and the Association of American Cancer Institutes, recognizes clinicians, clinics, practices, groups, and health systems who are going above and beyond to foster HPV vaccination in their communities.
CDC issues the award to clinicians, clinics, practices, groups, or health systems nominated by their immunization program.
We are pleased to announce that Maine Medical Partners – Westbrook Pediatrics has been nominated as Maine's 2019 HPV Champion!
Westbrook Pediatrics is a leader in their practice group, Maine Medical Partners (MMP), and the MaineHealth System, for achieving high HPV vaccination rates. Westbrook Pediatrics consists of four physicians and one nurse practitioner, and cares for over 3,400 patients. The practice is part of Tufts University School of Medicine, and its pediatricians teach pediatric residents at Maine Medical Center.
Westbrook Pediatrics implemented several interventions to improve HPV vaccination rates among their adolescent patients. Because of their great teamwork and organization, the adolescent HPV vaccination completion rate at Westbrook Pediatrics is 72%. This makes Westbrook Pediatrics Maine’s 2019 HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion!
To read the entire article on Westbrook Pediatrics, please visit the 2019 HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Award Winner Spotlights. |
Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation
As a health care professional, your strong recommendation is a critical factor that affects whether your patients get an influenza vaccine. Most adults believe vaccines are important, but they need a reminder from you to get vaccinated. Follow up with each patient during subsequent appointments to ensure the patient received an influenza vaccine. If the patient still is unvaccinated, repeat the recommendation to try to identify and address any questions or concerns.
The CDC recommends using the SHARE method to make a strong recommendation.
SHARE the reasons why the influenza vaccine is right for the patient given his or her age, health status, lifestyle, occupation, or other risk factors.
HIGHLIGHT positive experiences with influenza vaccines (personal or in your practice), as appropriate, to reinforce the benefits and strengthen confidence in influenza vaccination.
ADDRESS patient questions and any concerns about the influenza vaccine, including side effects, safety, and vaccine effectiveness in plain and understandable language.
REMIND patients that influenza vaccines protect them and their loved ones from serious influenza illness and influenza-related complications.
EXPLAIN the potential costs of getting influenza, including serious health effects, time lost (such as missing work or family obligations), and financial costs.
For more information, please visit the CDC webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions about 2-dose Influenza Recommendations
Can a child age 6-35 months who needs 2 doses of influenza vaccine this season receive a combination of Afluria, Fluzone, FluLaval, Fluarix, or FluMist vaccine?
Yes. Afluria (0.25 mL per dose), Fluzone (0.25 mL or 0.5 mL per dose), FluLaval (0.5 mL per dose), and Fluarix (0.5 mL per dose), are approved by the FDA for use in children age 6-35 months. If a child is age 2 years or older, FluMist may also be used when age and health condition are appropriate.
Can a child 36 months through 8 years of age who needs 2 doses of influenza vaccine this season receive a combination of Fluzone, FluLaval, Fluarix, or Afluria vaccine?
Yes. Fluzone (0.5 mL dose), FluLaval (0.5 mL dose), Fluarix (0.5 mL dose), and Afluria (0.5 mL dose) are approved by the FDA for use in children age 3 years and older.
If a child received Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine (0.25 mL) at age 34 or 35 months for the first time and then returns for the second dose at age 37 months, should we give another 0.25 mL dose of Fluzone Quadrivalend or should we give the 0.5 mL dose that is indicated for age 3 years and older?
The child should always receive the dose appropriate for his or her age at the time of the clinic visit; at age 37 months that would be 0.5 mL.
Source: Immunization Action Coalition - Ask the Experts
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit UPDATED
The Vaccine Storage and Handling Toollkit has been updated for 2020.
The toolkit is a comprehensive guide that reflects best practices for vaccine storage and handling from Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, product information from vaccine manufacturers, and scientific studies.
Please visit the CDC website for the updated toolkit.
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