AAP urges states to take firmer stand on nonmedical vaccine exemptions The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) this week called nonmedical vaccine exemption laws a failure and urged state governments to follow California's lead by eliminating nonmedical exemptions and enacting policies to improve immunization rates. “It’s clear that states with more lenient exemptions policies have lower immunization rates, and it’s these states where we have seen disease outbreaks occur as the rates slip below the threshold needed to maintain community immunity,” said Geoffrey R. Simon, M.D., lead author of AAP's new policy statement, “Medical Versus Nonmedical Immunization Exemptions for Child Care ... September 12, 2016 General Pediatrics, Personal Belief Exemption, Public Health, Vaccination, American Academy of Pediatrics, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Nominate a local "immunization champion" for annual awards Now is your chance to reward someone whose work in immunization deserves recognition. The California Immunization Coalition (CIC) is accepting nominations for two annual awards, given each year at the annual CIC Summit. The Natalie J. Smith Award is presented to an individual, group or organization in California that has made an outstanding contribution in the immunization arena. The Ronald P. Bangasser Award is presented to a practicing clinician who exemplifies the leadership, professionalism, and commitment that Dr. Bangasser—a past president of the California Medical Association—brought to his work in ... August 25, 2016 Awards, General Physician Leadership, Public Health, Vaccination, Awards, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
San Diego flu summit to discuss strategies for maximizing flu vaccine rate Mark your calendars for the 12th Kick the Flu Summit, on September 7, 2016, in San Diego. The summit, hosted by the San Diego Immunization Coalition, will convene medical, health and community service providers from both public and private sectors to share information, collaborate and strategize about how to promote and increase the rate of flu immunizations during the 2016-17 influenza season. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the San Diego Central Library. This year’s summit features keynote speaker Bill Atkinson, M.D., MPH, Associate ... August 25, 2016 General Immunization, Influenza, Public Health, Vaccination, Flu 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association promotes child and adult vaccinations during National Immunization Awareness Month August marks National Immunization Awareness Month, a national effort to promote vaccinations to protect children and adults from serious, and sometimes deadly, preventable diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century. Among children born during 1994-2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes. In response, CMA President Steve Larson, M.D., MPH, issued the following statement: “By protecting your loved ones, we ... August 8, 2016 General Immunization, Practice Resources, Public Health, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation releases PSAs to raise awareness about important adult immunizations The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has released public service announcements (PSA), in English and Spanish, to raise awareness about the importance of adult immunizations. The Foundation suggests that physicians turn their attention to adults, who haven’t been as diligent about getting their own shots. Vaccines are important at all ages. While there has been a lot of focus on unvaccinated children, physicians must not lose sight of the vaccines that are important at every age and stage in life. Millions of Californians are newly covered under the Affordable Care Act ... August 5, 2016 General I Heart Immunity, Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, CMA Foundation (CMAF) 0 0 Comment Read More »
Study says it will take California six years before it sees the results of its new vaccination law A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics says it will take California a full six years before the benefits of its new school vaccination law will be fully realized. The new law (Senate Bill 277), which takes effect July 1, 2016, eliminates all but medical vaccine exemptions from school vaccination requirements. The number of students in California with “grandfathered” exemptions in public and private schools will, however, remain as high as 95,090 in 2018 and 37,224 in 2020 (1.39 percent and 0.54 percent, respectively), according to the study’s authors. Their analysis ... April 4, 2016 General Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Vaccination rates for California kindergartners are up Approximately 93 percent of California kindergartners received all of their required immunizations by December 2015, an increase of 2.5 percent more than the previous year, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced last week. However, vaccination rates in 20 counties still fall below the percentage necessary to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. CDPH officials noted potential role in the increase of public awareness from the 2014 measles outbreak at Disneyland and the extensive media coverage of the debate and passage of Senate Bill 277 (Pan and Allen, ... January 25, 2016 General Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Campaign to recall Dr. Pan fizzles A campaign to recall California Senator Richard Pan, M.D., the pediatrician who carried Senate Bill 277 in the California state legislature, has failed to gain any support. Proponents of the recall had until December 31, 2015, to collect 35,926 verified signatures from the 436,318 registered voters in his district. According to the Yolo County Clerk Recorder, opponents of the effort did not even file one signature. SB 277, co-sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA), removed the personal belief exemption from vaccination requirements—allowing only for medical exemptions. The effort drew ... January 15, 2016 General Physician Leadership, Political Advocacy, vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Immunization summit coming to Sacramento April 24-25 The 2016 California Immunization Coalition (CIC) Summit, “Celebrating Healthier Tomorrows,” is scheduled for April 24-25 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. This annual meeting brings together a wide range of immunization partners from throughout California and beyond to share ideas, discuss issues and learn from one another. The summit is presented by the California Immunization Coalition, a public-private partnership dedicated to achieving and maintaining full immunization protection for all Californians to promote health and prevent serious illness. Speakers for the 2016 event include: Carolyn Bridges, M.D., Associate Director of ... January 15, 2016 General Seminars, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Educate your patients about screenings and vaccinations during Cervical Health Awareness Month January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. During this time, the California Medical Association (CMA) and CMA Foundation encourage physicians to talk to their patients about the risks of cervical cancer – and ways to prevent it, including increased screenings and vaccinations. The main cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be prevented through vaccination. Studies have shown that the HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and deaths in California annually. Cervical cancer can also be detected through ... January 15, 2016 General Cervical Cancer, HPV, Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, Women's Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
