In This Newsletter...

• Childhood Vaccine Program/VFC Site Visit Satisfaction Survey – Last Chance!
• New Shingles Vaccine - Shingrix
• Vaccine Choice ends TOMORROW!
• Third Dose of MMR Vaccine for Outbreaks
• Opportunity to Improve HPV Immunization Rates
• Dinner Program on VPD and Immunization Trends
• Vaccine Returns Training, Processing and Labels

Childhood Vaccine Program/VFC Site Visit Satisfaction Survey – Last Chance!

The Washington State Childhood Vaccine Program would like to thank everyone who has already provided feedback about their Vaccines for Children (VFC) Site Visits this year! Your input will help us shape our program and better serve you in the future. If you have not had the opportunity to take the survey and would like to, please follow the link below to take a short 5 minute survey about your site visit:

https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=11038

New Shingles Vaccine - Shingrix

The FDA recently licensed Shingrix, a new shingles vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline. Shingrix (a herpes zoster subunit--HZ/su vaccine) is approved as a 2-dose series given intramuscularly, six months apart, for adults aged 50 years and older. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted on October 25, 2017 to recommend the use of this vaccine for the prevention of shingles and related complications for immunocompetent adults aged 50 years and older, including adults who previously received zoster vaccine.

The final ACIP recommendations should be published in the MMWR soon and we will provide additional details on the recommended use of Shingrix when the vaccine is available.

FDA approval letter—Shingrix (PDF)

Package Insert—Shingrix (PDF)

Third Dose of MMR Vaccine for Outbreaks

The ACIP has updated their recommendations for the third dose of MMR. Persons previously vaccinated with two doses of a mumps-containing vaccine, who are identified by public health as at increased risk for mumps because of an outbreak, should receive a third dose of a mumps-containing vaccine to improve protection against mumps disease and related complications. After CDC approval, this recommendation will be published in the MMWR. Additional information will be shared when available.

Opportunity to Improve HPV Immunization Rates

The National Improvement Partnership Network, in collaboration with the Academic Pediatric Association, is recruiting for the 4th cohort of their HPV Immunization QI project. This CDC-funded project aims to improve HPV immunization rates by reducing missed opportunities and implementing strong provider recommendation and other evidence-based strategies. The project is a 9-month, multi-state, virtual learning collaborative that’s shown strong success in past cohorts.

The fourth cohort will start in January 2018. The project is appropriate for pediatricians, family medicine, FQHC, school-based health centers, and county health departments and includes free professional certification credits (MOC, MC-FP, CME) for medical professionals that participate.  Washington has not had many providers in past cohorts, and we’d like to improve our presence.

For more information, see the attached flyer. To enroll, click here. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Wallace-Brodeur with NIPN and the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, 757-484-1856 or rachel.wallace-brodeur@uvm.edu.

Vaccine Returns Training, Processing and Labels

For online returns training, please watch the YouTube video using the link below. Once you have viewed the training, send an email to WAChildhoodVaccines@doh.wa.gov with your PIN number and completion date.

After completing an online vaccine return and choosing to receive the return label via "email," you will receive an email directly from UPS. Make sure to open the email and retrieve your label by clicking on the link within 30 days of receipt.

After an online return has been submitted, it has to be approved by your LHJ, approved by the state, and uploaded. Once the file is uploaded, a shipping label will be generated and sent to the provider. Please allow time for processing. If you do not receive a shipping label within three weeks, send an email to inquire about the status of your return.

WA State Training - Online Returns for Providers

For more information on any of these updates, email the Vaccine Management team at WAChildhoodVaccines@doh.wa.gov or call us at 360.236.2VAX.