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March/April 2019

Immunization Schedules Released

CDC released new schedules and redesigned the website. Improvements include:
The adult and child/adolescent schedule pages immediately bring up the web version of the schedules. Users will be able to toggle back and forth between different tables within the schedules.
On the electronic version of the table, there is a more info icon beside each vaccine on the schedule. If users click on the more info icon it will take them to vaccination information for clinicians, which gives the user not only the full ACIP recommendation but also storage and handling, administration and other relevant information. The 2019 adult and child/adolescent immunization schedules are online on CDC’s website:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html

New Medscape CME/CE Program

On December 19, Medscape posted an online training program titled Preventing Meningococcal B Disease: Challenges and Opportunities. The presenters are Litjen Tan, PhD, MS, Immunization Action Coalition; Gary S. Marshall, MD, University of Louisville School of Medicine; and Utibe Effiong, MD, MPH, MidMichigan Health System. The presentation's downloadable slides, as well as information on obtaining continuing education credit, are available once you sign in to the presentation.
If you are not a registered user on Medscape, you can register for free and get unlimited access to all Medscape features, including continuing education activities. https://profreg.medscape.com/px/registration_ab.do?lang=en

Temperature Excursion Tips

A new service which is provided on the GSK Medical Affairs website contains a self-service temperature stability calculator to determine if GSK has data to support the stability of vaccine at the temperature and excursion time provided by healthcare professionals registered to practice in the United States. The tool provides a letter containing the temperature stability information. Include the letter when reporting an excursion. The website for the stability tool is located here: https://www.gskusmedicalaffairs.com/

Merck offers long-term stability data to support defrost cycling of the storage units. Providers must contact Merck to receive stability information and use the detail file available on their data logger to ensure the stability criteria have not been exceeded. If using the Berlinger Fridge Tag 2L, the .txt file is a detail file of all temperatures recorded by the logger every 5 minutes.

For help assessing your temperatures, contact your regional consultant.

Flu Vaccine Still Available

Injectable flu vaccine presentations are available. Notify Susan Kocen in the VVSA Order Center if you need vaccine. Please report expired Flumist to the Order Center for return to McKesson.

Virginia Receives Vaccination Coverage Awards

Dr. Melinda Wharton, Director, Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases recognized Virginia for:
• Healthy People 2020 – most improved average of coverage rates for nine vaccination for children age 19-35 months based 2014 and 2017 NIS-Child data
• Health People 2020 – outstanding progress for four vaccinations for adolescents age 13-17 based on 2017 NIS-Teen data

Adult Vaccine Update

American College of Obstetricians &
Gynecologists (ACOG) Resource
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists introduced a new health care provider resource, Strategies for Effectively Integrating Immunizations Into Routine Obstetric-Gynecologic Care. This tip sheet offers suggestions for ob-gyns, other health care providers, and practice staff on ways to optimize immunization programs in ob-gyn practices and integrate immunizations into routine patient care. http://immunizationforwomen.org/integratingimmunizations.php The strategies outlined in this provider resource are based on findings from an ACOG adult immunization project funded by the CDC, and were shown to increase patient immunization rates among ob-gyns. Additional immunization resources, including clinical guidance, other provider tip sheets, and practice management tools, can be found at ACOG’s Immunization for Women website.
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(December/January)

Outstanding VVFC Compliance
Arlington Pediatric Center, Arlington
Community Health Ctr. Rappahannock,
Fredericksburg
Pediatric Associates West, Charlottesville
Practice of Lillie R. Bennett, M.D., Richmond
Preferred Pediatrics at Courthouse, Spotsylvania
Preferred Pediatrics at Lee’s Hill, Fredericksburg
Preferred Pediatrics at Snowden, Fredericksburg
Richmond Pediatric Associates, Mechanicsville
Shenandoah Memorial Hosp. Peds., Woodstock
UVA Pediatrics Culpeper, Culpeper
Yum Pediatrics, Spotsylvania

Excellence in Storage and Inventory Management
Franconia Pediatrics, Alexandria