EZ-IZ Now Official VFC Website

Since its fall 2008 launch, EZ-IZ has continued to develop as a key resource for providers (and their clinical staff) who participate in California’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. The EZ-IZ training and other immunization resources are also appropriate for any health care professional looking for immunization information.

In November, the Immunization Branch redirected its old VFC page to the new www.eziz.org site. This month, the Branch alerted VFC providers by mail about the website URL change and about the new online recertification process.

EZ-IZ contains up-to-date VFC Program information, including letters, vaccine order status, and forms.

Recently added features include:

1. Frequently Asked Questions
2. Instructions for VFC program enrollment
3. New storage equipment requirements and posters describing the requirements
4. Common vaccine abbreviations
5. Temperature logs
6. Influenza Vial chart for 2008

Visitors to EZ-IZ are encouraged to register for the free EZ-IZ online training lessons and to check back periodically to explore newly added immunization resources. Viewers should send questions about or ideas for the site to eziz@cdph.ca.gov.

CIC Launches Vaccine Safety Fact Sheets

In response to parents’ increasingly frequent questions and concerns about vaccines, the California Immunization Coalition (CIC) recently launched a new suite of three vaccine safety fact sheets. The materials provide up-to-date information to help clinicians and public health workers respond to parents’ most common questions.

1. Talking with Parents About Vaccine Safety provides practical tips for health care providers about how to approach vaccine safety in a sensitive and compassionate manner.
2. Vaccine Safety: Responding to Parents’ Top Ten Concerns provides answers to the most frequent questions health care providers are likely to hear from new parents.
3. Vaccine Safety: 10 Facts for Parents is for clinicians to give to parents who have vaccine questions.

The CIC has begun promoting the new materials to key California-based medical associations, including the California chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP), the California Medical Association (CMA), the California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA), and the California Medical Assistants’ Association (CMAA). The e-announcement was also sent to the California Coalition of Local Health Officers (CCLHO).

The fact sheets are available at www.immunizeCa.org. Copies are also available from local health departments (see New Educational Materials and Online Resources).

HPV Vaccine Summit Brings Together Diverse Group

The 2008 HPV Vaccine Summit was held November 10 in Sacramento. More than 100 public health officials, clinicians, researchers, health plan representatives, and other decision makers met to discuss vaccine distribution, policy, surveillance, outreach, and other key issues. Interactive breakout sessions included topics on communication strategies regarding vaccines and vaccine safety, improving access to preteen well care visits, health education outreach in diverse communities, and public policy challenges. Summit participants were encouraged to generate ideas and share knowledge to foster future collaborative efforts. The Summit was sponsored by the California Medical Association Foundation (CMAF) and CDPH’s HPV Vaccine Workgroup.