Recommended Vaccines are still Important -- even during a Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for healthcare providers, parents, teens and young adults. One outcome of the pandemic, is a dramatic declines in routine vaccination. The CDC reported that orders for vaccines have declined sharply since the emergency declaration (MMWR, May 8 2020). A recent study showed a 71% drop in healthcare visits for children and adolescents 6-17 year olds¹, ages when critical vaccines including Tdap, HPV and meningitis are given. These declines in vaccination put children and communities at greater risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough. We're all part of the essential effort to ensure adolescents and young adults stay safe and healthy!
¹https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2020/apr/impact-covid-19-outpatient-visits
What can you do?
Act now to catch-up on well visits and immunization. One person's health affects the whole family. Teens and young adults need to be diligent to protect both themselves and their families.
Get your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.
Continue mask wearing, social distancing and other protocols in crowded environments to protect those at high risk.
Connect to and share Unity educational resources.
Resources for You
- Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for individuals 5 years and older
- Moderna vaccine for individuals 6 years and older
- Johnson & Johnson vaccine for individuals 18 years and older
- Who needs to be trained
- Best practices
- What clinicians need to know about Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines
- Allergic reactions, contraindications and precautions
- Influenza season preparedness from ASTHO
- CDC guidelines for back to school planning
Although COVID-19 has brought many challenges when it comes to providing care for adolescents, it has also ushered in an unprecedented era of the integration of technology and medicine. Hear from Dr. Irwin on what he has learned from this experience.
Dr. Irwin: Integration of Medicine and Technology
Dr. Irwin shares his UCSF adolescent and young adult clinic experience with dramatically increasing use of telehealth during the pandemic, and provides an insider look at a recently published review in the Journal of Adolescent Health
Dr Irwin: Integrating Telehealth into Adolescent Health Practice
Raising Awareness of Teen Vaccines Needed: Protection is a Snap.
Protection is a Snap (Spanish Version Available)
- Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for individuals 5 years and older
- Moderna vaccine for individuals 6 years and older
- Johnson & Johnson vaccine for individuals 18 years and older
- CDC: How to protect yourself and others
- Healthy Children: Signs our teen may need more support
- Healthy Children: Challenges and opportunities during the outbreak
- Dr. Lisa Damour: How to manage a meltdown
- CDC Back to School planning checklist
- Healthy Children: Youth sports during COVID-19
What can teens expect when getting a COVID-19 vaccine?
- The Vaccine Makers Project: The Coronavirus Pandemic – Answering Your Questions
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of The Clinton Foundation with
- Pia Valenzuela Escudero, Executive Director, Division of Student Health, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Holly Hunt, Chief, Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Dr. Charles Irwin, Director, Division of Adolescent Health, UCSF November 30, 2020
- Robert Boyd, President, School Based Health Alliance
Supporting Families & Schools in Addressing Student Health
Protect & Connect Fact Sheet: Details on recommended adoleslescent vaccines and illnesses they protect.
Protect & Connect Fact Sheet
Protection from Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Unity President talks about important vaccines recommended for teens at age 16 and Unity’s mission and resources
Judy Klein – Protection from Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
A quick reminder about the 2 vaccines to help protect against meningitis
If Only You Could Vaccinate Via Text (Spanish Version Available)
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of The Clinton Foundation with
- Pia Valenzuela Escudero, Executive Director, Division of Student Health, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Holly Hunt, Chief, Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Dr. Charles Irwin, Director, Division of Adolescent Health, UCSF November 30, 2020
- Robert Boyd, President, School Based Health Alliance
Supporting Families & Schools in Addressing Student Health
Raising Awareness of Teen Vaccines Needed: Protection is a Snap.
