A survey of state and local practices encouraging pediatric COVID-19 vaccination of children ages 6 months through 11 years.

Objective: This report highlights state and local practices for optimizing the pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program for children ages 6 months through 11 years.

Methods: State and local practices designed to optimize pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake were identified from a range of sources, including immunization program, CDC, and partner staff; and media stories or program descriptions identified via online searches.

Results: A range of practices were identified across different categories: provider-focused practices, school-based practices, jurisdiction or health department-based activities, community-focused practices involving partners, use of vaccination incentives, and Medicaid-related practices.

Recovery of measles-containing and HPV vaccine ordering post-COVID-19 pandemic: Trends by public vs. private funding source, urbanicity, and state - United States, January 2018 - December 2022.

Objective: To assess recovery in childhood and adolescent vaccine ordering since initial declines in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions.

Methods: Using vaccine ordering data provided by Merck & Co., Inc.

School-Based Interventions to Increase Student COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage in Public School Populations with Low Coverage - Seattle, Washington, December 2021-June 2022.

COVID-19 can lead to severe outcomes in children (1). Vaccination decreases risk for COVID-19 illness, severe disease, and death (2). On December 13, 2020, CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccination for persons aged ≥16 years, with expansion on May 12, 2021, to children and adolescents (children) aged 12-15 years, and on November 2, 2021, to children aged 5-11 years (3).

Vaccines for Children Provider Practices in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program: Barriers to Participation, Intentions to Offer COVID-19 Vaccination to Children Aged <5 Years, and Vaccination Promotion, United States, March 2022.

The aim of the study was to assess barriers to Vaccines for Children (VFC) provider practices participating in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program and intentions to offer COVID-19 vaccination to children aged <5 years. We invited a random sample of 15 000 VFC provider practices in the United States to complete an online survey during February 28 to March 11, 2022. Of 2809 practices that completed the survey, 2246 (80.

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Demographic Characteristics of Infants and Children Aged 6 Months-4 Years - United States, June 20-December 31, 2022.

Although severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization are more common among older adults, children can also be affected (1). More than 3 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported among infants and children aged <5 years (children) as of December 2, 2022 (2). One in four children hospitalized with COVID-19 required intensive care; 21.

Sociodemographic Variation in Early Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine and Parental Intent and Attitudes Toward Vaccination of Children Aged 6 Months-4 Years - United States, July 1-29, 2022.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for infants and young children, and on June 18, 2022, CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccination for infants and children (children) aged 6 months-4 years (1,2). As of November 9, 2022, based on administrative data reported to CDC,* 5.9% of children aged <2 years and 8.

Where are children ages 5-17 years receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations? Variations over time and by sociodemographic characteristics, United States.

Background: Knowing the settings where children ages 5-17 years received COVID-19 vaccination in the United States, and how settings changed over time and varied by socio-demographics, is of interest for planning and implementing vaccination programs.

Methods: Data from the National Immunization Survey-Child COVID-19 Module (NIS-CCM) were analyzed to assess place of COVID-19 vaccination among vaccinated children ages 5-17 years. Interviews from July 2021 thru May 2022 were included in the analyses for a total of n = 39,286 vaccinated children.

COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Availability and Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 5-11 Years - United States, November 1, 2021-April 25, 2022.

COVID-19 can lead to severe outcomes in children, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome, hospitalization, and death (1,2). On November 2, 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued an interim recommendation for use of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in children aged 5-11 years for the prevention of COVID-19; however, vaccination coverage in this age group remains low (3). As of June 7, 2022, 36.

COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Access and Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 5-11 Years - United States, November 2021-January 2022.

On October 29, 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine received Emergency Use Authorization for children aged 5-11 years in the United States. For a successful immunization program, both access to and uptake of the vaccine are needed. Fifteen million doses were initially made available to pediatric providers to ensure the broadest possible access for the estimated 28 million eligible children aged 5-11 years, especially those in high social vulnerability index (SVI) communities.

Disparities in First Dose COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Children 5-11 Years of Age, United States.

We analyzed first-dose coronavirus disease vaccination coverage among US children 5-11 years of age during November-December 2021. Pediatric vaccination coverage varied widely by jurisdiction, age group, and race/ethnicity, and lagged behind vaccination coverage for adolescents aged 12-15 years during the first 2 months of vaccine rollout.

US Primary Care Providers' Experiences and Practices Related to Routine Pediatric Vaccination During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To describe, among pediatricians (Peds) and family physicians (FPs), 1) changes made to routine childhood vaccination delivery as a result of the pandemic, and 2) perceived barriers to delivering vaccinations from March 2020 through the time of the survey.

Methods: A nationally representative survey among Peds and FPs was administered by mail or Internet in October-December 2020.

Results: Response rate was 64% (579/909).

Analysis of School-Day Disruption of Administering School-Located Vaccination to Children in Three Local Areas, 2012-2013 School Year.

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of time elementary and middle-school students spend away from the classroom and clinic time required to administer vaccines in school-located vaccination (SLV) clinics. We conducted a time study and estimated average time away from class and time to administer vaccine by health department (HD), student grade level, vaccine type, and vaccination process for SLV clinics during the 2012-2013 school year. Average time away from classroom was 10 min (sample: 688 students, 15 schools, three participating HD districts).

Patient Characteristics and Costs Associated With COVID-19-Related Medical Care Among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries.

Background: New cases of COVID-19 continue to occur daily in the United States, and the need for medical treatments continues to grow. Knowledge of the direct medical costs of COVID-19 treatments is limited.

Objective: To examine the characteristics of older adults with COVID-19 and their costs for COVID-19-related medical care.

Provision of Pediatric Immunization Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: an Assessment of Capacity Among Pediatric Immunization Providers Participating in the Vaccines for Children Program - United States, May 2020.

Recent reports suggest that routine childhood immunization coverage might have decreased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (1,2). To assess the capacity of pediatric health care practices to provide immunization services to children during the pandemic, a survey of practices participating in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program was conducted during May 12-20, 2020. Data were weighted to account for the sampling design; thus, all percentages reported are weighted.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Pediatric Vaccine Ordering and Administration - United States, 2020.

On March 13, 2020, the president of the United States declared a national emergency in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (1). With reports of laboratory-confirmed cases in all 50 states by that time (2), disruptions were anticipated in the U.S.

Pediatricians' Experiences With and Perceptions of the Vaccines for Children Program.

Background And Objectives: The Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) provides vaccines for children who may not otherwise be vaccinated because of financial barriers. Pediatrician participation is crucial to the VFC's ongoing success. Our objectives were to assess, among a national sample of pediatricians, (1) VFC program participation, (2) perceived burden versus benefit of participation, and (3) knowledge and perception of a time-limited increased payment for VFC vaccine administration under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Evaluation of Educational Interventions to Enhance Adolescent Specific Vaccination Coverage.

Background: In this study, we assessed impact of two educational interventions designed to increase coverage of three vaccines recommended during adolescence among Georgia middle and high school students (tetanus diphtheria pertussis [Tdap], meningococcal [MenACWY], and human papillomavirus [HPV] vaccines).

Methods: We randomized 11 middle and high schools in one school district into one of three arms: (1) control; (2) educational intervention for parents only (P only); and (3) multicomponent educational intervention for parents and adolescents (P + A), which consisted of educational brochures for parents about vaccines recommended during adolescence and a vaccine-focused curriculum delivered to adolescents by science teachers. We obtained vaccination coverage data during intervention years from the state immunization registry.

Understanding Factors Affecting University A Students' Decision to Receive an Unlicensed Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine.

Purpose: During March-November 2013, five cases of serogroup B meningococcal disease occurred among University A undergraduates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used the unlicensed MenB-4C (Bexsero, Novartis Vaccines), a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine, to control the outbreak. All undergraduates (n = 19,257) were offered two doses; 51% of undergraduates received ≥1 dose of MenB-4C.

Place of influenza vaccination among children--United States, 2010-11 through 2013-14 influenza seasons.

Background: Studies are published on settings adults receive influenza vaccination but few have reported on settings children are vaccinated and how this might be changing over time or vary by socio-demographics.

Methods: Data from the National Immunization Survey-Flu were analyzed to assess place of influenza vaccination among vaccinated children 6 months-17 years during the 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 influenza seasons. The percentage of children vaccinated at each place was calculated overall and by age, race/ethnicity, income, and Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Preexisting Chronic Health Conditions and Health Insurance Status Associated With Vaccine Receipt Among Adolescents.

Purpose: Four vaccines are routinely recommended for adolescents: tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap); human papillomavirus (HPV); meningococcal-conjugate (MCV4); and a yearly seasonal influenza vaccine. Vaccination promotion and outreach approaches may need to be tailored to certain populations, such as those with chronic health conditions or without health insurance.

Methods: In a controlled trial among middle and high school students in Georgia, 11 schools were randomized to one of three arms: no intervention, parent education brochure, or parent education brochure plus a student curriculum on the four recommended vaccines.

Implementing a School-Located Vaccination Program in Denver Public Schools.

Background: School-located vaccination (SLV) offers an opportunity to deliver vaccines to students, particularly those without a primary care provider.

Methods: This SLV program offered 2 clinics at each of 20 elementary schools (influenza vaccine) and 3 clinics at each of 7 middle/preschool-eighth-grade schools (adolescent platform plus catch-up vaccines) during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years. Established programmatic processes for immunization delivery in an outreach setting were used.

School-Located Vaccination Clinics for Adolescents: Correlates of Acceptance Among Parents.

Four vaccines are recommended by The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices for adolescents: tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV), and annual seasonal influenza vaccine. However, coverage among adolescents is suboptimal. School-located vaccination clinics (SLVCs) offer vaccines to students at school, increasing access.

Measuring chronic liver disease mortality using an expanded cause of death definition and medical records in Connecticut, 2004.

Aim: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a leading cause of death and is defined based on a specific set of underlying cause-of-death codes on death certificates. This conventional approach to measuring CLD mortality underestimates the true mortality burden because it does not consider certain CLD conditions like viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We measured how much the conventional CLD mortality case definition will underestimate CLD mortality and described the distribution of CLD etiologies in Connecticut.

School-located influenza vaccination with third-party billing: what do parents think?

Objective: School-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) may be instrumental in achieving high vaccination rates among children. Sustainability of SLIV programs may require third-party billing. This study assessed, among parents of elementary school students, the attitudes about SLIV and billing at school, as well as factors associated with being supportive of SLIV.