On March 13, FDA expanded the indicated age range for Arexvy (RSV vaccine, GSK). This approval expands the indication to include adults age 18 through 49 years who are at increased risk for lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) due to RSV. Arexvy should not be used during pregnancy. Arexvy’s license continues to include adults age 60 years or older and adults age 50 through 59 years with high-risk conditions for severe RSV disease.
Due to the stay of ACIP activities, it is not known when CDC recommendations for use of this product will be considered.
Three RSV vaccines are now licensed for all adults age 60 years or older AND adults age 18 through 59 years with high-risk conditions for severe RSV disease:
Observed April 6–10 this year, Adolescent Immunization Action Week (#AIAW26) urges parents, healthcare providers, and adolescents to start the conversation about the vaccines adolescents need to keep their health on track.
Unity’sPartner Toolkit includes ready-to-use graphics, social media templates, sample newsletters, posters, and flyers to support this goal. Resources can be customized and co-branded to meet your needs.
Visit Unity’s AIAW campaign page for social media-ready materials to draw attention to improving coverage. Use the hashtag #AIAW26 to spread the word.
Increase your practice’s immunization rates by using evidence-based strategies. Consider implementing one or more of the following strategies to improve your rates.
Standing orders - Standing orders for immunizations include office policies, procedures, and orders to provide recommended immunizations to patients.
Provider Prompts - Remind yourself to offer vaccines through prompts. Provider prompts usually consist of electronic prompts in EHRs or notes/flags in paper charts
Hold Family-friendly Office Hours - Create more opportunities for busy families to access vaccination services by holding vaccination clinics with varied hours (evenings and/or Saturdays). This has been shown to work especially well for influenza vaccine.
Assign an Immunization Champion for Your Practice - Appoint an immunization champion to serve as a steward and advocate of immunizations in your practice.
Provide a Strong Recommendation - Always give a strong recommendation for all vaccines on the current immunization schedule. Parents trust their health care providers guidance
Provider Feedback - Consider running an immunization rate report through your EHR or perform a chart audit to determine the percentage of your patients who are up-to-date on immunizations.
Educate Patients and Their Families - Take every opportunity to educate families and patients. Let them know at each visit what vaccines they can expect at their next health supervision appointment and provide handouts on these vaccines and diseases.
For those interested in learning more about increasing vaccination rates in your practice, please reach out to ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov for more details.
Vaccine hesitancy starts with a question. The encounters along our way to finding answers are what form our opinions about vaccines. Vaccine hesitancy is not an all-or-nothing scenario. In fact, it’s most frequently a space of confusion and questions than adamant beliefs. The people who accept vaccines but have doubts or who delay or refuse some are the people searching for answers.
If you have any questions, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at: Main Line: (207) 287-3746 ImmPact Helpdesk: (207) 287-3006 / Support/Education: (207) 287-9972
