Kathryn Ahnger-Pier, MPH

The Respiratory Immunizations Dashboard is back and updated with data through October 25th!

www.mass.gov/info-details...

More parents are opting out of vaccines for kids Pediatricians in states with high exemption rates, such as Florida and Georgia, say they’re concerned by what they see — declining immunization levels for kindergartners, which could lead to a resurge...

Vaccination requirements in schools help serve kids who are unable to get full protection from vaccines and who could suffer severe consequences from infections. A further degradation in these vaccination rates will harm many.
www.healthbeat.org/2025/01/16/c...

The AIM Leadership in Action meeting was a great success! Lots of interesting panels and it’s always great to spend time with fellow immunization program managers.

The future is uncertain but the mission is clear: continue to promote vaccinations as the best defense against serious illness.

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis stands behind a lectern with the AIM logo, on a stage in front of a blue curtain. His slide on the screen reads “the power of trusted messengers”

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis opens the conference about the important work of public health and being a trusted messenger.

Caffeinated and ready for Day 1 of the AIM Leadership in Action conference!

I’d love to be included, thanks!

This #Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for the miracles called

Vaccines

that have saved millions of people from smallpox, measles, polio, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, chicken pox, tetanus, shingles, typhoid, cholera, rabies, yellow fever, malaria, RSV, pneumonia, influenza, mpox, Covid-19...

I’m hoping that the majority of policy makers see the importance of vaccinations and the impact of the VFC program and keep most of those policies intact.

So if those contracts were to go away, it suddenly becomes harder for states that provide universal access to pediatric vaccines to supply those vaccines.

The burden would fall on provider offices and many would have trouble staying in the black.

The Vaccines For Children program is a major way that the government pays for vaccines for VFC-eligible children. This is an entitlement program connected to the Social Security Act.

Related to this, the feds have contracts with vaccine manufacturers that states can use to buy vaccine.

The major question is what happens if this goes in reverse? It takes time for new vaccine recommendations to go through various regulatory and statutory levels at the states, but if the ability to purchase those vaccines suddenly dried up, you could see a larger impact right away.

Reminder to all that “organic” does not mean “healthier and free from disease-causing organisms”!

This is why it’s important to have strong public health surveillance systems.

My father, wearing a disposable gown for the NICU, holding my newborn premie sister, who is wrapped in a blanket and wearing a pink hat. His hand covers almost all her body.

My sister and I next to each other, smiling and wearing eclipse glasses. My sister is giving a peace sign.

A little late for World Prematurity Day but a shout out to my favorite premie, my sister.

Born eight weeks early and impossibly small at a little under 2 pounds, she’s now living her best life. Seven year old me also learned about RSV as I wasn’t allowed to visit her until later in her NICU stay.

👏🏽👏🏽

No cervical cancer cases detected in vaccinated women following HPV immunisation

publichealthscotland.scot/news/2024/ja...

Thank you for sharing! My sister was born in ‘93 at 32 weeks/850g and she is the fiercest person I know. Your daughter is amazing!

Happy to be added, from the right account. 🙂

Good morning BlueSky! There are so many people here working to promote good and effective health communication, which is especially important post-election. Happy to add to the voices promoting vaccination across the lifespan!