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.

Photo of Fairfax County Health Department staff celebrating Antimicrobial Awareness Week with purple balloons.

FCHD’s Antibiotic Awareness Week: A Celebration of Health & Education

The Fairfax County Health Department’s 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!