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The MDH influenza surveillance unit is recruiting outpatient health care providers to support statewide surveillance programs. Participating contributes to understanding influenza-like illness (ILI) in Minnesota and nationally. The two programs seeking participation are outlined below. They both monitor trends for respiratory diseases in Minnesota, inform trends nationwide, and address influenza surveillance gaps. Up-to-date examples of how MDH uses some the respiratory illness data collected can be found on Weekly Influenza and Respiratory Activity: Statistics.
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U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet): A national syndromic surveillance system through CDC that collects ILI data from U.S. states and territories. It monitors weekly percentage of outpatient visits due to ILI for five different age groups. Data collected includes aggregate numbers of patients presenting to clinic with ILI symptoms and the total number of patients presenting to clinic overall.
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Minnesota Outpatient Respiratory Surveillance Enhancements (MORSE): MORSE partner sites complement ILINet through weekly specimen submissions from patients with respiratory illness. While ILINet determines the impact respiratory illness has on a population, MORSE identifies which pathogens may be linked to illness in the community. Specimens are sent to MDH Public Health Lab (PHL) to test for influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and other pathogens like metapneumovirus and adenovirus. We work flexibly with partner sites on what participation looks like for individual clinics or hospitals. Participants in the MORSE sentinel surveillance activities receive wellness kits for patients, free attendance to the annual Minnesota Emerging Infections Conference, free testing through MDH PHL for diagnostic influenza and COVID-19 results, and access to curated data reports made by MDH epidemiologists.
If you have questions or are interested in participating in either program, contact Kelsey Seiler at kelsey.seiler@state.mn.us.
Aluminum has been safely used as an adjuvant in several routinely recommended vaccines since 1926. Adjuvants help strengthen the immune response to the vaccine, allowing for lesser quantities of the vaccine and fewer doses. Despite decades of use in billions of people, concerns persist that aluminum exposure through vaccines could contribute to chronic diseases such as autism, autoimmune conditions, or allergies.
To address these concerns, a landmark Danish cohort study was recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine entitled Aluminum-Adsorbed Vaccines and Chronic Diseases in Childhood: A Nationwide Cohort Study. Researchers analyzed health outcomes in more than 1.2 million children born between 1997 and 2018, using national registry data to compare varying levels of aluminum exposure from early childhood vaccines. The study assessed 50 conditions, including 36 autoimmune diseases, nine allergic or atopic conditions, and five neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and ADHD over two decades. Results showed no association between cumulative aluminum exposure and increased rates of these conditions. For every 1mg increase in aluminum received from vaccines during the first two years of life, risk did not rise for autoimmune, allergic, or neurodevelopmental disorders.
This large study provides the most robust evidence to date that aluminum-containing vaccines do not contribute to chronic disease. Supporting data from prior reviews by the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Vaccine Program Office similarly found no evidence of harm. Aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines remain a safe, effective, and essential part of routine immunization. For more information on aluminum in vaccines review Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Aluminum In Vaccines: What You Should Know (PDF).
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is proud to honor Sheyanga Beecher, Hennepin Healthcare Mobile Health Program Director as Minnesota’s 2025 Immunization Champion. Beecher supports communities that need preventative care and immunizations via pop-up clinics across Hennepin County. Additionally, Beecher engages with community members and leaders by hosting town halls to answer all health and immunization related questions and builds vaccine confidence in communities. To learn more about Beecher’s community and immunization work, visit Hennepin Healthcare Mobile Health medical director receives national immunization award.
The MnVFC Vaccines Save Lives graphic video won second place in the Agency, Event, Program or Service Video; Large Entity category at the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators Northern Lights Awards ceremony on July 30. This promotional video is available in multiple languages on MnVFC Program Resources. The Northern Lights contest recognizes outstanding work in Minnesota's government, educational and nonprofit communications, and provides valuable feedback for all entries from the communications professionals who judge the contest. The contest is conducted annually by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators (MAGC).
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