June is Pride Month! Join CDPH’s Immunization Branch as we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) communities by highlighting our 2024 PRIDE Toolkit which seeks to support health care and service providers to educate their patients and clients about sexual health issues, and which immunizations to prioritize for LGBTQ+ patients this PRIDE season. Highlights include mpox vaccination and HIV and STI testing information, and connection to services.
Mpox Updates
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported an unprecedented number of suspected clade I Monkeypox Virus (MPXV) infections since 2023. This poses a risk for potential global spread as well as increased transmissibility and more severe disease. For more information, see CDC | MMWR.
The majority of ongoing mpox cases in the United States continue to be in unvaccinated persons. Only about 40% of the at-risk population in California has received two-doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine. Vaccination with JYNNEOS is believed to be effective for clade I MPXV and our greatest possible tool for prevention of severe disease from either MPXV clade.
As of April 2024, JYNNEOS is included in the routine adult immunization schedule and has become commercially available. While CDPH will work to ensure access to vaccine through LGBTQ+ PRIDE season, access to vaccine for people who are uninsured/underinsured in your jurisdiction may be impacted once the state supply is phased out. Providers are encouraged to start purchasing the commercial JYNNEOS product for their insured patients. A list of JYNNEOS wholesalers and distributors can be found on the Bavarian Nordic website at Contact Us | USA | Bavarian Nordic (bnvaccines.com).
Non-LHD providers will no longer be able to order JYNNEOS in myCAvax, and are advised to contact their LHD if they are unable to access the commercial JYNNEOS. They will need to justify their need to access doses from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) rather than purchasing through the commercial market (e.g. vaccine at events where uninsured patients will be vaccinated; provider unable to access commercial product).
JYNNEOS is covered by Medi-Cal without prior authorization. It will be published on the Medi-Cal contracted drug list in June 2024. It is confirmed to be a pharmacy benefit with no prior authorization. You can contact DHCS with questions at contactus@dhcs.ca.gov.
Reminder: CDPH’s current JYNNEOS vaccine inventory will expire October 31, 2024. Expiration date of any future vaccine ordered from SNS may also be short dated (SNS Products: Vaccines and Treatment Available for Use in the Mpox Response (hhs.gov)).
Please see the CDPH EZIZ webpage for more complete information and links regarding JYNNEOS vaccine.
The CDC-held Emergency Authorization Investigational New Drug (EA-IND) Protocol for Tecovirimat (TPOXX) will be updated soon to clarify eligibility criteria for TPOXX use. Providers should check the CDC | TPOXX for Treatment of Mpox webpage periodically for updates (anticipated this month). If any questions regarding TPOXX access, please contact mpxtreatment@cdph.ca.gov.
PRIDE month is about celebrating self, equity, respect, diversity, and community. What better way to do that than working together to continue to protect Californians from vaccine-preventable disease.
Resources
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Please join CDPH tomorrow, Friday, June 14, 2024, 9:00 am - 10:30 am for the CDPH Immunization Updates for Providers webinar series (occurs every other Friday).
Register here for the Immunization Updates for Providers webinar, Friday, June 14, 2024, 9:00 am - 10:30 am (PT).
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We want to remind you that the nomination period for the Immunization Champion Award has begun! We look forward to receiving your nominations and selecting a 2024 Immunization Champion for California. The Immunization Champion Award is a national award program hosted by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and honors individuals going above and beyond to foster and/or promote immunization in their communities.
Access the nomination form here. Nominations will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Friday, June 21, 2024. Please share this email with your networks. (Note that the deadline on AIM’s site does not apply to California’s nominations.) Completed nomination forms must be sent directly to the California Immunization Program at MyVFCVaccines@cdph.ca.gov, subject line, “IZ Champion.”
Individuals can be recognized for their work in childhood, adolescent, or adult vaccines and are selected based on their demonstration of leadership, collaboration, innovation, and advocacy.
- Eligible nominees include healthcare professionals (i.e., pharmacists, physicians, nurses, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants), nonprofit leaders, community activists, parents, school and education leaders, coalition members, community-based organization members, and immunization partners.
- Ineligible people include immunization program managers; county, state, and federal government employees paid by state or federal immunization funding; individuals who have been affiliated with and/or employed by pharmaceutical companies; individuals who have already received the award; and groups of people.
Completed nomination forms must be sent directly to the California Immunization Program at MyVFCVaccines@cdph.ca.gov, subject line, “IZ Champion.” We look forward to receiving your nominations. Please refer to the nomination packet for full details on nomination guidelines and criteria.
Read here for information on California’s 2023 Immunization Champion, Dr. Silvia Diego.
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Strong, healthy fathers need immunizations too! Please join CDPH in celebrating Father's Day by encouraging your patients who are a father/parent to stay up to date on their vaccinations. Fathers can also encourage their pregnant partners to get the shots recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) during pregnancy:
- COVID-19 (new formulation coming this fall!)
- Flu (ASAP during flu season)
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine (September – January, and/or between 32-26 weeks of pregnancy)
- Tdap (between 27-36 weeks of pregnancy). If expecting, fathers and caregivers should be encouraged to get their Tdap vaccines as well to protect their newborns.
Fathers of older children can ensure that they’re ready for childcare and school by getting them up to date on their vaccines, too. Give them a helping hand by sending reminders now to beat the back-to-school rush. For a full schedule of recommended vaccines through the life cycle, see the CDC’s Recommended Vaccines by Age.
Thank you for all that you do to promote and encourage vaccinations! Together we can improve the health of fathers and their families this Father’s Day and beyond.
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