Immunization and Infectious Disease Update
National Association of County & City Health Officials
Information and Resources for Local Health Departments

Recent News


Infection Control Today (March 14, 2014) 

NBC News (March 15, 2014) 

Medical Daily (March 17, 2014) 
 
TIME (March 17, 2014) 
 
Examiner.com (March 17, 2014) 
 
HeraldNet (WA) (March 17, 2014)

Latin Post (March 18, 2014)

New York Times (March 18, 2014) 

WGNS Radio (TN) (March 18, 2014)
 
AAFP News (March 19, 2014)  

Large Study Shows Tamiflu Cut H1N1 Pandemic Deaths
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (March 19, 2014)

Family Practice News (March 19, 2014)

 
HuffPost Live (March 20, 2014)
 
Health Affairs Blog (March 20, 2014)

Pfizer Press Release (March 20, 2014)

Associated Press (March 21, 2014) 

Medical Daily (March 21, 2014)

Forbes (March 24, 2014) 

Medscape (March 24, 2014) 
 
Yale Daily News (CT) (March 25, 2014)  
 
CBS Los Angeles (March 25, 2014)  
 
New York Daily News (March 25, 2014)  
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (March 27, 2014)  

Resources


Antibiotic Stewardship
The CDC has released a Vital Signs report that describes antibiotic prescribing practices in hospitals and the importance of antibiotic stewardship. The report includes a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article, graphic factsheet, and digital press kit.

NACCHO is pleased to recognize the Indiana Coalition for Antibiotics Resistance Education Strategies (ICARES) as an early adopter of this work. Established in 1999, ICARES is a joint partnership with the Marion County Public Health Department, Indiana State Department of Health, CDC, and other local partners that works to inform physicians and patients about the potential harm associated with unnecessary antibiotic use. More information about this CDC-funded state and LHD collaboration is available at http://www.icares.org/.

Webinar Archive: You are the Key to HPV Cancer Prevention: Communicating about HPV Vaccinations

The Immunization Action Coalition recently sponsored a webinar, featuring Dr. Anne Schuchat from CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, on HPV infection and ways to improve HPV vaccination rates. Access the complete one-hour webinar here.

 

TedX Talks: The Scream That Should Be Heard Around the World

From her international professional experience, Anna Dragsbaek focuses on implementing projects to boost immunization rates and analyzing immunization law and policies. She gives a compelling and sensible approach to the case for immunization as our social contract with community and global health. View the talk here

 

CMS Released Proposed Decision Memo for the National Coverage Analysis on Medicare Coverage for HCV Screening in Adults 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their  Proposed Decision Memo for Screening for HCV in Adults. The evidence is adequate to conclude that screening for HCV, consistent with the grade B recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), is reasonable and necessary for the prevention or early detection of an illness or disability and is appropriate for individuals entitled to benefits under Part A or enrolled under Part B for beneficiaries who meet either of the following conditions. 

 

NEW: Billing For Clinical Services Toolkit and Website

NACCHO, with funding from the CDC, created a toolkit with resources, templates, and tools for LHDs to use while developing the capacity to bill third-party payers for immunization, STD, TB and HIV services. More than 200 resources have currently been collected from state billing guides, CMS, state health departments, LHDs, insurance companies, and vendors of products such as electronic medical records and billing clearinghouses.  The toolkit can be found on NACCHO's new billing website along with other resources such as webinars, training opportunities, and information on peer networking. NACCHO wants to talk to you about your LHD billing experiences and needs! Please contact akitlas@naccho.org and we will work with you to schedule a time to discuss LHD billing.

 

Billing Task Analysis Resource

NACCHO and the CDC developed the Billing Task Analysis Resource that will walk users with varying levels of billing experience through the process and link them to resources within NACCHO's Billing for Clinical Services Toolkit. This resource will help LHD staff understand what considerations and steps are needed to develop capacity to bill third-party payers for clinical services. 

 

NACCHO Immunization Videos Page
NACCHO has gathered videos addressing vaccination into one convenient place. Watch short videos covering immunization issues, including influenza, pertussis, adolescent immunization, and personal stories about vaccine preventable diseases. Videos range from humorous to serious and target a variety of ages. Please email Alyssa Kitlas (akitlas@naccho.org) if you have an immunization video you would like to share with other LHDs. 

Get Involved

CDC Netconferences: Immunization-Related Update

The CDC will host a netconference to discuss immunization updates on April 2, 2014 (12:00-1:00 PM EDT). The updates will include discussions on the control of Serogroup B Meningococcal outbreaks, 2014 ACIP Hib vaccination statement, and CDC immunization resources for providers. Register here

 

Plan Now for National Infant Immunization Week: April 26-May 3, 2014   

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) will focus attention on the critical role vaccination plays to protect infants and children from serious disease. Helpful planning resources and ready-to-use promotional materials such as video PSAs, sample Tweets and Facebook posts, and drop-in articles are available on the NIIW website.  

 

Reminder: Register now for the National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions
The 11th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions will be held in Seattle on May 21-23, 2014. Attendees will have the opportunity to: 1)
learn how to use collaboration and partnership to improve the health status of their communities; 2) engage with world-class speakers such as Dr. David Williams and Dr. Bill Foege; 3) participate in the design and launch of a social media campaign with Every Child by Two; 4) connect with colleagues (and potential partners) from across the nation; and 5) attend the first-ever NCIHC Film Festival featuring award-winning documentaries.

 

The Second Southeast Regional Health Impact Assessment Summit, July 30 - August 1, 2014, Davidson, NC

The Second Southeast Regional Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Summit will be held July 30-August 1, 2014, in Davidson, NC. The Summit will feature a keynote address by Michael Skipper, Executive Director of the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization, and provide those interested in promoting health in the Southeastern United States an opportunity to network, learn the basics of HIA, share case studies, listen to presentations by HIA experts, earn continuing education credits, and much more.


The 2014 HIA of the Americas Workshop, September 15 - 16, 2014, Oakland, CA 

2014 will mark the fifth convening of HIA practitioners for the HIA of the Americas Workshop. The objectives of this two-day workshop are to: 1) build a community of HIA practitioners by offering an intimate forum to network and share ideas and tools that elevate the practice of HIA; and 2) promote excellence in HIA by sharing best practices, tackling challenging HIA related issues, and disseminating resources and work products developed by the HIA of the Americas working groups. Attendees at the two-day workshop will learn and share ideas with a diverse group of HIA practitioners through presentations and small working groups. Visit here for additional information about the workshop and how to register.

 

Immunization Excellence Awards Nominations Due April 1, 2014

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit is soliciting nominations for its 2014 Immunization Excellence Awards.  These awards recognize individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions towards improving vaccination rates within their communities during calendar year 2013. The awards are given in these five categories: Adult Immunization, Overall Flu, Healthcare Personnel Campaign, Immunization Neighborhood Champion  and Corporate. Nominate yourself, others, or refer this information to colleagues who might have a good submission. Full details here

 

Billing and Sustainable Series: Implementation and Improvement Strategies for STD and Other Public Health Programs Webinar

This three-part series is designed for state and local STD and other public health programs interested in billing and revenue cycle management to support program sustainability. Together, the three sessions offer an overall framework as well as specific strategies for implementation and improvement of third-party billing across the revenue cycle. For more information, and to register, click here 

 

Submit a Tool to NACCHO's Immunization and Infectious Disease Toolkits
NACCHO's Toolbox provides LHDs with resources related to immunization and infectious disease prevention and control practices. Examples of tools include templates, guides, community resources and much more. 

Publications


Immunizations   

Bottino CJ, Cox JE, Kahlon PS, Samuels RC. Peds. 2014 March 24; E-pub ahead of print. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-2494
 
Oliver E and Wood T. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 March 17; E-pub ahead of print. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.190

  

Immunization Action Coalition. 2014 March; 24(1). 

Immunization Action Coalition. 2014 March; 18(1). 

Infectious Diseases

The mission of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local public health departments.

 

For additional information about NACCHO, visit www.naccho.org.