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With the CDC forecasting another challenging fall/winter respiratory season (see CDC 2023-2024 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook), an RSV vaccine available to the elderly for the first time, and an updated COVID vaccine rolling out now (see CDC Approves ACIP Recommendations On Fall COVID Vaccines), there is a lot of new information for clinicians to catch up on.
On Tuesday (Sept 19th) the CDC will hold a COCA Call - primarily for clinicians - on these new options. These presentations are often technical, and are of greatest interest to clinicians and healthcare providers, but also may be of interest to the general public.
As always, If you are unable to attend the live presentation, these (and past) webinars are archived and available for later viewing at this LINK.
Details follow, after which I'll have a brief postscript:
Preparing for the Upcoming Respiratory Virus Season: Recommendations for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccines for Older Adults
Overview
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for co-circulating influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this fall and winter. Vaccines can provide life-saving protection against all three viral respiratory diseases. CDC recommends these vaccines for older adults, who are at a higher risk of severe illness from these diseases. Clinicians play a vital role in ensuring that older adults protect themselves by encouraging them to stay up to date on influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccinations.
During this COCA Call, CDC presenters will provide updates about the latest recommendations and clinical considerations for administering influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines to adults 60 years and older and discuss resources and communication strategies that may help facilitate older adult vaccination.
Presenters
Amadea Britton, MD/SM
Medical Officer
Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division
National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lisa A. Grohskopf, MD, MPH
Medical Officer Influenza Division
National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Megan Wallace, DrPH, MPH
Epidemiologist
Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division
National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN
Nurse Educator
Immunization Services Division
National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Call Materials
None available at this time. Please check back.
Call Details
When:
Tuesday, September 19, 2023,
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
Webinar Link:
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1606020154
Webinar ID: 160 602 0154
Passcode: 493303
Telephone:
+1 669 254 5252 or
+1 646 828 7666
One-tap mobile:
+16692545252,,1606020154#,,,,*493303# or
+16468287666,,1606020154#,,,,*493303# US
International numbers
Governments around the world have a lot riding on our ability to `live' with the new-normal of co-circulating influenza and COVID variants, and are putting a lot of stock in the ability of seasonal vaccines to blunt their impact this fall and winter.
But for that strategy to work, people have to be willing to roll up their sleeves. And between `pandemic vaccine fatigue' and unrelenting misinformation on the internet about vaccine safety, getting people to do that is a challenge.
Only about half of eligible Americans get the flu shot every year, and last fall's roll out of a bivalent COVID vaccine attracted disappointingly few takers, with only 17% of eligible Americans getting the shot. Even among those over 65, less than 44% opted for the jab.
Hopefully we'll do better with the uptake of this year's vaccine.
While i have limited expectations for the protection provide by both flu and COVID vaccines, I'm grateful for whatever benefits they can provide. Even if they don't always prevent breakthrough infection, they can often reduce the severity of that illness.
And with the array of viral threats expected this fall, that's protection worth having.
