Support for the Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage this Winter 

On December 14^th, CDC released a health advisory about the ongoing need to vaccinate against viral respiratory infections this winter. To help healthcare workers, the health advisory included supporting data and educational resources that we are featuring this month. 

• Conversation guide for healthcare providers 
• Script for patient portal reminder message in English and Spanish 
• Resource page for vaccine co-administration 

Ways to Share these Resources 

• Update your patient communication script for the electronic medical record; it isn’t too late to vaccinate! 
• These conversation-based education resources may be key for those who didn’t vaccinate early.  

Target Audience: Essentials IPC education level 

• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology: Infection Prevention and Control for Shelters During Disasters (12/2023) 
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO): Healthcare Capacity Discussion Guide (11/2023) 
• CDC Health Advisory: Mpox Caused by Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus with Geographic Spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12/7/2023) 
• CDC Health Advisory: Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023-2024 Winter Season (12/14/2023) 
• VDH Clinician Letter: Mpox Updates for Virginia (12/11/2023) 

FCHD's Antibiotic Awareness Week: A Celebration of Health and Education

The Fairfax County Health Department’s (FCHD) Strengthening Antimicrobial Stewardship in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SASS) team put together an amazing educational program for U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) in November 2023! Their team is using CDC funding to focus on improving antimicrobial stewardship in skilled nursing facilities. During USAAW, they rolled out a toolkit for skilled nursing facilities to use for their own facility education.  

We spoke to Samantha Christensen, Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) HAI Epidemiologist to learn more about their Antibiotic Awareness Week toolkit. The FCHD started the week off with a big celebration, beginning with a kickoff breakfast, an antimicrobial stewardship podcast playlist with QR codes for easy access, and a microbe “joke of the day”. They also put up a tri-fold education poster with purple themed balloons and decorations, wore purple for Antimicrobial Awareness Week, had antimicrobial stewardship themed trivia with Starbucks gift cards for prizes, and held a watch party (with snacks, of course) for everyone to view educational infection prevention and control videos!

And because we know you want to hear the jokes…. “What’s the most popular antibiotic in Italy?  Amoxsicilian!”   Here’s another good one… “What’s the opposite of an antibiotic?  An uncle-biotic!”

Congratulations to Samantha and the entire FCHD team for developing this fun and unique education program to ensure smart antibiotic use in skilled nursing facilities!