The EXCITE Newsletter: September 2nd 2022

Upcoming Webinar to Debut NEW EXCITE Opportunities

Reminder to join us Thursday, September 22nd, 3-5 pm ET for news about our latest EXCITE opportunities, open to all land-grant institutions. We will record the webinar and also have a follow-up “office hours” for further questions.

We are excited to share more about this great opportunity, made possible by the Extension’s outstanding efforts in carrying out immunization education in their communities. REGISTER HERE.

End of Quarter Means A2 Financial Reports Due

September 15 is the deadline for the latest quarterly Financial Report for A2 teams. Please submit promptly to Peter Aamodt
peteraamodt@extension.org for 1862 Institutions, or Antonio McLaren
amclaren@1890foundation.org for the 1890s Foundation.

Anticipated Approval and Availability of Updated COVID-19 Booster

We are grateful that EXCITE program team has been included in CDC updates daily this week related to the COVID-19 booster.  Below is the latest information that we have from CDC that we want to share with all of you.

1. The booster is currently in the 3rd step of the approval process and is anticipated to receive final approval either Thursday or Friday this week
2. Distribution has already begun to pharmacies and doctors’ offices based on their order requests and it’s anticipated to be available to the public after Labor Day.
3.  Each pharmacy and physicians’ office can establish their plan for distribution. There may be less supply in the first 2-3 weeks, but adequate supply is available for the population. Some sites may select to focus on elderly and immunocompromised individuals first, but this is not required and up to each jurisdiction.
4. The clinical name for the booster is Bivalent because it contains strains of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, but publicly CDC would like it to be referred to as the “updated booster.”
5. CDC suggests that a reference point of discussion is that just like the annual flu vaccine is updated each year, similarly the COVID19 vaccine is being updated.  They also used the descriptors of  “broader, stronger, particularly around Omicron strains” .
6.  Individuals can get the updated flu shot and the updated booster at the same time.
7.  Immediately, this booster will replace all previous boosters, and like the last booster vaccines, you will have to have your first set of shots before receiving this booster.
8. CDC did not provide us with message points yet but did suggest checking Ruralhealth@CDC.gov in coming days.

We will provide you with more messaging and communication plans as they are shared.

FDA Press Release on Booster

Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

2022-2023 Flu Season Update 

Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022-2023 Influenza Season has been published. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older in the United States get a flu vaccine, ideally by the end of October. Flu vaccination is especially important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, like those with certain chronic health conditions and people 65 years and older. More information about the 2022-2023 flu season is available at Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2022-2023 Season.

Public Health Communication Collaborative Launches #TipOfTheWeek

Last week, PHCC launched a #TipOfTheWeek social media series! Every Thursday, they post an actionable tip to support public health communications. This series was inspired by the thoughtful questions received during a recent webinar, Comms Crash Course: Using Social Media for Public Health Communications. Learn more here, and be sure to head over to Twitter @PH_Comms and LinkedIn every Thursday for new tips!

Availability Note: Assistant Program Director Katie Stofer Out of office

Katie Stofer will be out of the office September 7th until approximately November 15th. If you have questions about presenting at Spotlight or Insight in September, October, or November, please contact Brenna Kotar, BrennaKotar@Extension.Org until Katie returns. For general information about EXCITE including upcoming opportunities, please email EXCITE@Extension.Org