Technically Speaking: 3 Important Tools for Your Electronic Tool Bag
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Vaccine Update for Healthcare ProvidersPublished on
Vaccine Update for Healthcare ProvidersThis month I want to point out three tools that many clinical and public health personnel will find remarkably useful. Some are new, but the first is just new to me.
You are probably familiar with the excellent videos from the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. They address many of the most common parent questions, such as:
Perhaps you would like to share these with a family that prefers a language other than English. Below are the steps for getting closed captioning for these videos in other languages.
For a free step-by-step guide with screen shots, visit “Getting closed captioning translations of videos” and click on the “Start Course” button.
COVID-19 vaccine guidance is moving forward faster than my systems for tracking it. To help us ensure that we are using the most recent information, Immunize.org (formerly known as the Immunization Action Coalition) has published a new two-page job aid, called “Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools.” This helpful guide lists the most recent information in six categories:
The “checklist” includes the most recent revision dates of each document and links dates to the original document or webpage. Immunize.org will update this list at least monthly, showing the most recent review date at the top of each page. To be sure you are using the most recent information, check your reference materials against this list.
For other materials, or to view this resource, visit the “Handouts & Staff Materials” section of Immunize.org; the two-page checklist is available in the COVID-19 section of the vaccine index tab.
Imagine that you have a 10-year-old patient who lives in your state but spends two months every summer with family in Puerto Rico. Should that child be evaluated for possible dengue vaccination?
What if you have an adult patient with hepatitis C, is that an indication or a contraindication to vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine?
What length needle should you use for intramuscular vaccination of a 95-kg (209.4 lb) woman who needs to receive the vaccination in her thigh?
One of the best places to find answers to difficult immunization questions like these is the “Ask the Experts” section on Immunize.org. The questions and answers are divided into 30 topics that include infectious diseases, ranging from COVID-19 to zoster, as well as vaccine delivery issues (e.g., billing and reimbursement, vaccine safety).
If you have not checked out this important resource in the past, do so today. If you are in a hurry but wondering about the answers to the above questions, go to these quick links:
I hope that these three tools are of value to you as we launch into spring 2022.
Contributed by: Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH, FAAP
Categories: Vaccine Update March 2022, Technically Speaking
Materials in this section are updated as new information and vaccines become available. The Vaccine Education Center staff regularly reviews materials for accuracy.
You should not consider the information in this site to be specific, professional medical advice for your personal health or for your family's personal health. You should not use it to replace any relationship with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. For medical concerns, including decisions about vaccinations, medications and other treatments, you should always consult your physician or, in serious cases, seek immediate assistance from emergency personnel.