Blog

A comprehensive 2020 Vaccines National Strategic Plan (VNSP) is more important now than ever before. As our nation prepares for upcoming COVID-19 vaccines, we know that issues of equitable distribution and access for all–particularly for the populations most at risk– are critical in determining the pace and success of the nation’s recovery. Allocation, distribution, access, and utilization of the COVID-19 vaccine will likely be the greatest public health effort of our generation. And while this effort will present significant challenges, it also brings a new opportunity to expand the strength of existing immunization program infrastructure in the United States.

The nation is about to overcome a major hurdle in the battle against COVID-19: development of an effective vaccine. The next essential step is ensuring that those who need the vaccine most can access and afford it. AVAC is committed to the equitable allocation, distribution, access, and utilization of a future COVID-19 vaccine.

We thought our daughters were protected. In both of our cases, when the doctors told us our daughters had meningitis, we thought – “that can’t be. Our daughters were vaccinated against meningitis.” What we didn’t know, and what so many children and parents still don’t know today, is that there are two types of meningitis vaccines needed to be fully vaccinated against meningococcal disease—MenACWY and MenB.

AVAC hosted the second briefing in a series on “Immunizing in a COVID-19 Environment.” The briefing featured a discussion on best practices for immunizing in the adult population, ways to vaccinate safely during an emergency pandemic, and legislative steps that can be taken now to prepare for the upcoming flu season and future COVID-19 vaccine.

At AVAC’s June briefing, Dr. Ruth Carrico, an infectious disease professor and nurse practitioner from the University of Louisville’s School of Medicine, shared her long-standing success with drive-through influenza vaccination programs, and how they can be replicated in a COVID-19 environment to increase immunization rates.

During AVAC’s June briefing on immunizing in a COVID-19 environment, Dr. Laura Morris explained how she counsels patients on immunization by basing her advice on science and making clear and strong recommendations.

Dr. Laura Lee Hall, President of the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) at the National Minority Quality Forum, spoke at AVAC’s June briefing about the importance of targeting resources to communities of color in order to increase flu immunization rates. particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.