Maine Immunization Weekly Program Update - November 26, 2024

Maine Immunization

Program Weekly Update

November 26, 2024

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thankful

This Thanksgiving, we want to express our gratitude to all the healthcare providers for your dedication to keeping Mainers safe from vaccine-preventable diseases. Your hard work and commitment make a difference every day. 

Wishing you and your families a happy, healthy, and joyful Thanksgiving!

Thank you for all that you do!

~ The Maine Immunization Program



Thank You for Joining Our Virtual Provider Training

Thank you for those who took the time to join us last Thursday for our Virtual Provider Training! We had a great turnout, and your engagement and thoughtful questions truly made the session a success.

We are pleased to hear the positive feedback from many of you and are glad the training provided valuable insights and tools to enhance immunization practices within your office. Your dedication to protecting your communities does not go unnoticed.

If you have any additional feedback or suggestions for future trainings, we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out or share your thoughts.

Thank you again for your participation and for all the work you do every day to protect Mainers from vaccine preventable disease. We look forward to connecting with you again in future sessions.

When available, PowerPoint presentations and  recordings of the training will be posted on our website.


Vaccine Storage and Handling

We would like to remind providers about the importance of maintaining cold chain integrity for vaccines, especially during the winter months when the outdoor temperatures can fluctuate.


Materials Available to Order

The Maine Immunization Program offers free materials to help support your vaccination efforts, from posters and flyers to vaccine schedules, magnets, bookmarks, and patient handouts. These resources are designed to assist providers in promoting immunizations and educating patients.

Placing an order is simple -- just complete the Maine Immunization Program Materials Order Form and submit it. We will package up your materials and send to you for FREE in the mail.

Additionally, if there are items you don't see that you would like us to provide, we would love to hear your feedback to better meet your needs.


Educational Opportunities

The CDC continues to offer educational webinars, such as the "Current Issues In Immunization" series, to provide healthcare providers with the latest information on immunization practices. These sessions include presentations and live Q&A sessions to address current immunization topics.

The CDC also provides several other training programs available for new and seasoned healthcare providers covering topics such as general best practices, immunization strategies, and updates on new vaccine recommendations. These include:

You Call the Shots

Pink Book Web-on-Demand Series

Self Study programs with CEU credits

Update on Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

Lots of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine expiring on Nov. 30, 2024, will not be granted a shelf-life extension.

Please visit the Novavax webpage for expiry information on your specific lots of vaccine.


REMINDERS on Updated Vaccine Recommendations

COVID-19 Vaccine Administration

The CDC now recommends a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged 65 years and older, as well as for those aged 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. This second dose should be administered six months after the first to enhance protection against severe COVID-19.

Pneumococcal  Vaccination

The CDC has lowered the recommended age for routine adult pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50 years. This change aims to improve vaccination coverage among adults aged 50 through 64 who have risk conditions.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine

The CDC has updated its RSV vaccine recommendation for adults aged 60 years and older. All adults aged 75 and older are advised to receive a single dose of the RSV vaccine. For adults aged 60 - 74, vaccination is recommended if they are at increased risk of severe RSV disease, such as those with chronic medical conditions or residents of long-term care facilities.


Avoid Preventable Errors in Vaccine Administrations

Ensuring the safe and effective administration of vaccines is critical in protecting public health. Common mistakes like using the wrong diluent, mixing up vaccine with similar names, or missing health issues that could delay vaccination can be easily avoided.

Tips to prevent these errors:

  • Use checklists to catch any health issues before vaccinating.
  • Always check labels carefully before preparing vaccines.
  • Store vaccine components together to avoid mix-ups.

By following these simple steps, we can keep vaccinations safe and effective, for more tips, please see this updated resource from the Immunization Action Coalition - Don't Be Guilty of These Preventable Errors in Vaccine Administration!


Updated 2025 Immunization Schedules

We’re pleased to share the updated 2025 Immunization Schedules for your use and distribution. The schedules summarize the final recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and officially endorsed by the CDC director. The 2025 schedules were approved by ACIP on October 24, 2024, and subsequently endorsed by several professional organizations. 

Additional resources will be made available in  the coming months, including: 

The Maine Immunization Program will also be mailing printed posters to enrolled MIP providers to display in their offices.