Immunizing in a COVID-19 Environment: Best Practices August 07, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us why vaccines are critical for reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Vaccines help us mitigate diseases, prevent severe illnesses, and reduce rates of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Unfortunately, the pandemic has also introduced new challenges to our health care system that have resulted in …

AVAC Spotlight: Ruth M. Carrico, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, CIC Infectious diseases professor and nurse practitioner in University of Louisville’s School of Medicine 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 …

AVAC Spotlight: Laura Morris, MD Family Medicine Physician and Associate Professor at the University of Missouri A strong recommendation from a physician is one of the top factors associated with a patient receiving a vaccine. In a time when misinformation about vaccines is increasingly circulated online and vaccine hesitancy is on the rise, it is more important than ever that …

AVAC Spotlight: Laura Lee Hall, PhD, Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) Public health officials are warning of a dangerous flu season, that could be complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. Community transmission of COVID-19 will likely continue through next flu season, creating the risk of overcrowding in hospitals, co-infections which could lead to worse health outcomes, and …

AVAC Member Spotlight: WomenHeart  Millions of Americans are living with or at risk of heart disease. For many, this chronic health condition puts them at risk for other illnesses, such as the flu, and can make serious complications more common (as we’re seeing currently with COVID-19). For example, adults with heart disease are at higher risk for suffering a heart …

A Call to Action on Hepatitis B Vaccines April 30th is designated as National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day. Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people who become infected can go on to develop a chronic or lifelong infection. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious liver damage, and even liver …

Developing a COVID-19 Vaccine is Only Half the Battle Written By: Vaccinate Your Family Apr 08, 2020 Rising cases of COVID-19 across the country have many people asking the same question: where’s the vaccine? Experts have suggested a vaccine may be 12 to 18 months away, an optimistic timeline given the intense scrutiny vaccines undergo prior to approval. Once approved, additional …

The Essential Role of Physicians in Immunization By Lisa Foster, AVAC Co-Manager Physicians and other health care providers in the community are the experts we turn to when we are sick and are in need of medical advice and care. We also look to providers for information and education on how to improve and protect our health and overall wellbeing. …

Vaccine Infrastructure And Education Is The Best Medical Investment Our Country Can Make By: J. Nadine Gracia and Amy Pisani January 21, 2020 When it comes to vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, it’s been a rough few months. Flu season got off to its earliest start in 15 years and is currently widespread throughout the nation, according to the …

Moving More Electrons To Optimize New Adult Composite Immunization Measures Health Affairs Blog Angela K. Shen Elizabeth Sobczyk September 20, 2019 Doi: 10.1377/hblog20190919.68890 Meaningfully measuring adult influenza and pneumococcal vaccination is a vital public health intervention. Ninety percent of deaths from influenza occur in older adults, often those with chronic co-morbid conditions. Pneumococcal disease is also responsible for thousands of …