Pearls Winter 2024
| Dane County Immunization Coalition Updates General Membership Meeting Mark your calendars! Our next general membership meeting will be held on virtually on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 12pm to 1:30pm. Watch your email in the coming weeks for the agenda which will have the Zoom link. Save the Date! DCIC will hold its annual Symposium on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 6pm until 8pm. Watch your email for topics and registration. Immunize Wisconsin Annual Conference The Immunize Wisconsin Annual Conference will be held March 21 and 22, 2024 in at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Free Webinar on HPV Vaccination IMWI will be hosting a free webinar on the importance of HPV vaccination on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 1pm to 1:45pm. The focus will be on evidence that supports initiating HPV vaccination at age 9, a strategy that promises to significantly boost the vaccination rates by age 13. This early intervention is key to maximizing protection against six types of cancer. Registration is available here. Volunteers Needed SSM Health’s Mobile Vaccination Team is looking for volunteers to help staff vaccination clinics at the Madison Metropolitan School District Holtzman Building (333 Holtzman Road) on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 10am to 2pm and on Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10am to 2pm. Volunteers are needed to help with Spanish interpretation, registration, vaccine preparation, vaccination, and post-vaccine monitoring and review of records. Those interested should email Sarah Breon at [email protected] Thank you for working to make our communities healthier! Immunization Updates New Vaccine Schedules are Available!The CDC has released the 2024 recommended immunization schedule for children, teens, and adults. The adult schedule can be found here and the children and adolescent schedule can be found here. Health Equity Bridge Access Program for COVID VaccinesThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted barriers to vaccination among adults including accessibility, availability, and lack of confidence. The Bridge Access Program will allow adults who are underinsured or uninsured to receive free COVID vaccinations for a limited time. Children who are underinsured or uninsured can receive the COVID vaccines at no charge through the Vaccines For Children Program. Access more information about the Bridge Access Program here. Promoting Immunization HPV Vaccination Resources for Health ProfessionalsThe American Cancer Society shares that “healthcare providers play the most important role in getting people vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) and helping patients to understand that the HPV vaccine is cancer prevention.” Vaccinators play a role in sharing factual and patient friendly information. The American Cancer society provides links to materials that are free to use and download to aid with patient education of HPV in your office. Access the materials here. Toolkits Available to Promote Respiratory Illness VaccinationThe Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has released toolkits which help providers advocate for administration of RSV, flu, and COVID vaccines. The toolkits contain patient education, outreach tools, press release templates for health care providers, tips for respiratory illness vaccine messages, and sample social media messages. Promoting Respiratory Illness Vaccinations 2023-2024 Toolkit for Health Care Providers Promoting Respiratory Illness Vaccinations 2023-2024 Toolkit for Local and Tribal Health Departments Promoting Respiratory Illness Vaccinations 2023-2024 Toolkit for People Who Are Pregnant Promoting Respiratory Illness Vaccinations 2023-2024 Toolkit for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs In the Media Article Confirms Multiple Pediatric Deaths Due to RSVWisconsin’s Department of Health Services (DHS) has reported 3 pediatric deaths due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In the wake of these deaths, DHS has made pediatric deaths associated with RSV a reportable disease. |