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National Immunization Awareness Month: Important Information and Resources

Date: 08/11/20

August is National Immunization Awareness (NIAM) Month. It is always important to keep patients up to date on vaccines, but especially during COVID-19. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases could place the health-care system under additional strain at a time when resources are limited.

During the July 2020 Texas Immunizers and Stakeholders Working Group (TISWG) meeting, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Immunization Unit discussed the drop in immunization rates since the beginning of the COVID-19 national emergency declaration on March 13, 2020. DSHS noted that approximately half of Texas children are eligible for the Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) Program. Of the 3,000 TVFC program providers statewide, 163 sites had been suspended due to inactivity. Overall, administered doses through the TVFC program significantly decreased in March and April, and began to rise again in May, but remain well below 2019 levels. DSHS added that there have been no changes or extensions to the 2020-2021 school requirements for vaccines.

Recommendations

The DSHS Immunization Unit and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend:

  • Scheduling sick visits and well-child office visits at different times of the day.
  • Prioritizing reaching out to schedule members who need to catch up on immunizations.
  • Implementing many of the strategies utilized during the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009.

Resources