When children approach and enter their teenage years, immunity from the vaccines they received during youth declines. Concurrently, as adolescents gain independence, they begin engaging with more places and people, heightening their risk of exposure to disease. Keeping up with recommended vaccinations protects preteens and teens against disease and encourages them to make informed vaccine choices as they enter adulthood. Recommended Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two vaccines for newly at-risk illnesses: meningococcal disease ..read more

Every year, as part of its mission to promote health and prevent disease, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes immunization schedules as an informational resource for healthcare professionals and patients. To ensure the schedules reflect the current disease landscape, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a subsection of the CDC, provides annual updates. The ACIP comprises medical and public health experts, including vaccine experts, scientists, doctors, and public health professionals. What Are Immunization Schedules? For healthcare providers ..read more

Vaccination is an important part of keeping children healthy and strengthening their immune systems. Prioritizing routine childhood immunization is one of the lowest-cost and most effective public efforts to improve health, control disease, and extend lifespan. The CDC estimates that vaccination of children born between 1994 and 2021 will prevent 472 million illnesses, up to 30 million hospitalizations, and more than one million deaths, saving nearly $2.2 trillion in total societal costs, including $479 billion in direct costs. Recommended Vaccinations for Babies and Children A baby’s immune s ..read more

The past three years have been transformative for the vaccine industry. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how vulnerable we are without protection against disease and reminded us of the power of vaccines. On a global scale, the game-changing development of vaccines had significant health and economic impacts with the vaccination campaign saving approximately 2.4 million lives. In 2023, we reached the end of the public health emergency declaration on May 11 – the final milestone of the pandemic. Before we move forward, it’s important to understand immunization trends, reflect on vaccine advance ..read more

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. However, without the right storage and handling conditions, vaccine efficacy can only extend so far. The CDC estimates that over 300 million pounds worth of vaccines are destroyed globally due to improper storage and handling. Maintaining Vaccine Cold Chain Requirements To ensure Center of Disease Control (CDC) guideline compliance, every practice is mandated to have a Primary and Back-Up Vaccine Coordinator who evaluate general vaccine management practices and cold chain procedures in place. A cold chain is the ..read more

Many patients are vaccinated as children, but it's important that they remain up-to-date with routine vaccinations into adulthood. As patients age, their vaccine protection may weaken over time, making older adults more susceptible to infections and heightened symptom severity. To ensure patients of all ages are protected against preventable diseases, here is an overview of vaccines recommended for patients 50 and over. Shingles Shingles comes from the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If a patient has previously been infected with chickenpox, the virus can remain ..read more

The holiday season is a time when we gather with friends and family to celebrate. But these gatherings also pose a hidden threat. Large, indoor gatherings can be the perfect environment for viral infections to spread. Staying up to date on recommended immunizations strengthens protection against vaccine-preventable illnesses, reduces symptom severity, and can significantly reduce strain on overcrowded hospitals. To prevent seasonal surges, it’s important to speak with your patients about the proper precautions and recommended vaccines. Combatting the “Tripledemic” Through Immunization The 2022 ..read more

When presented with a patient or parent with vaccine hesitancy—a phenomenon intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic—there are a few strategies healthcare providers can use to address patients’ concerns and strengthen confidence in vaccine services. One approach is to explain the rigorous and scientific process that vaccines go through before being approved, and recommended, by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  Healthcare providers play an important role in educating patients and emphasizing the nation’s longstanding vaccine safety system, which CDC reports as the safest vaccine supply ..read more

It’s that time of year again. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a timely opportunity to remind patients of the importance of vaccines. Although it’s difficult to imagine in the midst of the summer heat, influenza (flu) season is right around the corner. To get ahead of the 2023–2024 flu season, now is the ideal time to have proactive conversations with your patients about their plans for getting a flu shot. The Importance of Proactive Vaccination Immunization is most effective when our communities are vaccinated before the peak season of the disease. To ensure maximum protectio ..read more

Since COVID-19 vaccines became widely available, it has been relatively easy for providers to access vaccines for their patients. Over the past two years, the federal government has used emergency funds to purchase vaccines and distribute doses to providers at no cost. However, this won’t be the case for much longer, as significant changes to vaccine manufacturing, procurement, and pricing are expected as a result of depleted funds and the end of the public health emergency. When the federally purchased supply of vaccines runs out or becomes superseded by a new variant booster—likely by fall ..read more