VDH-Little-things-Social_Immunized-Image of a monster

❄️’Tis the Season…for Flu Prevention

Viral respiratory season is here, settling in right alongside the colder weather. National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 1–5) reminds us that there’s still time to get vaccinated and stay ahead of the flu. Especially with the holidays approaching fast, an annual flu vaccine for everyone six months and older is still the best way to keep flu from putting a damper on your winter season.

What to Expect

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) Flu Resources – ‘Wild to Mild’ flu campaign, posters, graphics, and videos
VDH Respiratory Illnesses Resources – “Little Things” campaign, flyers, and social media graphics

How to Use It

Make it visible. Print NFID “Wild to Mild” posters or VDH “Little Things” graphics for breakrooms, waiting rooms, or bulletin boards.
Share it forward. Include links or images in your facility newsletter, onboarding packets, or weekly staff updates.
Use data to drive action. Review local flu activity together and discuss how your facility can stay prepared as the season evolves.

Target Audience: Essential IPC Education Level

Guidance & Regulation Updates

VIPTA members track guidance and regulation resources to share source documents that guide infection prevention and control practices for public health staff and clinical and non-clinical healthcare personnel.

The date of the regulation or guidance update is included in each post. Please check linked content to be sure it is the most up to date and recommended practice.

APIC: Updated Monkeypox Playbook (11/07/2025)

APIC

Acute Care Hospital

Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care

Department of Health

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Mobile Clinic

Outbreak Investigation

Patient and Family Engagement

Surveillance

Recent updates to the Monkeypox Playbook include the CDC’s Traveler Health Notice advising enhanced precautions and an updated Risk/Triage Scale recommending increased awareness. Additional information covers the current global situation of monkeypox and the latest outbreak reports.

SHEA: Multisociety Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Homes (10/20/2025)

SHEA

Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)

Assisted Living Facility (ALF)

Hospice and Palliative Care

Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

The guidance offers recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC) in nursing homes to address challenges including medical acuity and the rise of multidrug-resistant organisms. It emphasizes the importance of IPC leadership, training, and adherence to precautions while also considering the balance between maintaining a home-like environment and ensuring effective infection prevention measures.

SHEA/APIC: Multisociety Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Homes (10/28/2025)

APIC

SHEA

Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)

Assisted Living Facility (ALF)

Hospice and Palliative Care

Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

Cleaning and Disinfection

Employee/Occupational Health

Hand Hygiene

High Level Disinfection

Outbreak Investigation

Physical Environment / Environment of Care (EOC)

This guidance document updates the 2008 SHEA/Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) guideline: Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-Term Care Facility and is intended to assist nursing homes in the United States in defining and implementing their infection prevention and control (IPC) programs and practices. Recommendations and implementation suggestions address IPC leadership, staffing, and resources, healthcare personnel and residents‘ adherence to precautions and effective hand hygiene, outbreak preparedness, training, occupational health, cleaning and disinfection in the care environment, and the involvement of IPC in the facility.

VDH Clinician Letter: Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule (10/10/2025)

CDC

VDH

Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care

Department of Health

Pediatric / NICU

Vaccination

This clinician letter outlines updates to immunization schedules for MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) and COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing their essential role in community health and safety in Virginia. It discusses the new guidelines, including the separate administration of the MMR and varicella vaccines for children under 4 years, the COVID-19 vaccine's availability for individuals aged 6 months and older, and the importance of verifying insurance coverage prior to vaccination.

VDH Clinician Letter: COVID-19 Vaccine Update (09/11/2025)

VDH

Any Practice Setting

Department of Health

Vaccination

This letter provides important updates about the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine. The State Health Commissioner issued a Statewide Standing Order authorizing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to adults consistent with FDA indication.

✨Innovative Antimicrobial Stewardship Education in Long-Term Care: A Virginia Beach Success Story

Whitney Rice, MPH, CIC, Healthcare-Associated Infections Epidemiologist at the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health, has taken a proactive and creative approach to antimicrobial stewardship in long-term care settings. Inspired by a successful initiative from another Virginia health district, Rice launched an educational campaign across three types of long-term care facilities: skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities (ALFs), and multicare centers.

The program was designed to reach all key stakeholders (e.g., providers, residents, and families) with tailored educational materials and interactive sessions. These included PowerPoint presentations, printed handouts, activity books, and engaging games such as a microbe matching challenge (to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections) and a Jeopardy-style quiz game for staff. A post-education survey revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback: residents enjoyed the sessions, and staff expressed interest in more in-depth technical content.

Key Educational Messages:

For Residents and Families: Emphasis was placed on the importance of taking antibiotics exactly as prescribed, on time and without skipping doses, and understanding that antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections.
For Providers: The training focused on resisting pressure to prescribe unnecessary antibiotics and included guidance on managing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), with a focus on cleaning, disinfection, and Enhanced Barrier Precautions to prevent their spread.

Lessons Learned:

Skilled Nursing Facilities: These settings yielded the most effective provider education, likely due to the more consistent presence of medical staff and pharmacists.
Assisted Living Facilities: Provider education was more challenging here due to fewer on-site clinicians, but resident engagement was highest, as ALF residents were more able to actively participate in the sessions.
Future Plans: These insights will be used to refine and tailor future rounds of education, ensuring that content delivery is optimized for each facility type and audience.

Whitney Rice’s initiative demonstrates how thoughtful, audience-specific education can enhance antimicrobial stewardship and promote responsible antibiotic use in long-term care environments. Her work serves as a model for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in their communities.