The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is a group of medical and public health experts that develops vaccine recommendations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses these recommendations to develop vaccine schedules that include the target age, number of doses, and dose interval. The recommendations are the cornerstone of prevention in U.S. health care. 

ACHA is one of 30 professional organizations with an official liaison to the ACIP. As the ACHA representative, I am charged with providing input regarding the impact of ACIP recommendations in the college health setting, and I attended the most recent ACIP meeting at CDC in Atlanta this past October. At this meeting – one of three held each year – the committee discussed vaccine research, safety, and supply, among other things.

Here are some of the topics that were addressed by the ACIP at its October meeting:

Meningococcal vaccine back in the news: The ACIP voted to recommend use of quadrivalent vaccine MenACWY CRM in infants (aged 2-23 months) at increased risk meningococcal disease. The vaccine protects against meningitis serogroups A, C, W, and Y. This is the first quadrivalent vaccine for meningitis that the FDA has approved for use in infants under six months. It may also be used for healthy infants prior to travel to countries in which meningococcal disease is epidemic. This is the same conjugated meningitis vaccine used in the adolescent and college age population.

Pertussis vaccine supply: All pertussis-containing vaccines have been in short supply, and although shipping has resumed, availability will remain somewhat low over the next several months. Follow vaccine shortages here.

Influenza: Influenza activity in the U.S. is currently minimal, so there’s still time to get our students immunized. The most successful approach? One study showed that 71% got the flu vaccine if a provider both recommended and offered the vaccine in the same visit. Last year showed important increases in flu vaccines coverage in adults over 18 and all health professionals. Follow flu activity this season here.

The next meeting will be in February 2014. Some of the topics on the agenda:

MMWR “General Recommendations on Immunization”: This document will contain important updates in vaccine administration, use of multi-dose vials, and safety engineered syringes.  

ACIP Statement on HPV Vaccine: ACIP is working on providing further guidance on the HPV vaccine to address the low uptake in adolescents compared to other vaccines that are given at this age. Part of the problem has been that parents may regard the HPV vaccine as a gateway to sex and not the cancer-prevention strategy that it really is. In the meantime, have you seen CDC’s Tips and Time-savers for Talking with Parents About HPV Vaccine? 

CDC’s Updated Immunization Schedules: Updates to the vaccine schedule are released each February schedule. ACHA’s Recommendations for Institutional Prematriculation Immunizations will also be updated to reflect the new schedule and recommendations on vaccines for college students. 

Minutes and presentation slides from ACIP meetings can be found here. 

The American College Health Foundation supports the mission of student health services and the institutions they serve by funding innovative, creative health and wellness programs and initiatives. Some of these projects and activities would not otherwise be funded through traditional revenue sources, and that’s where ACHF steps in. 

ACHF now provides seven awards and one writing prize on an annual basis. Four of these will be offered for the first time in 2014. Together, the awards provide funding for projects focusing on healthy education, behavioral and mental health issues, wellness solutions, and innovative practices in college health (including culturally competent practices and initiatives to help implement the goals of Healthy Campus 2020).  

Could any of these awards help support a program at your institution?

NEW! Aetna Student Health Award – $5,000 award to support the creation of novel wellness solutions and programs that address issues specifically related to the overall well-being of college students 

Gallagher Koster Innovative Practices in College Health Awards – two awards of $2,500 each to support the development of innovative practices that improve access to quality health care for students

NEW! Healthy Campus 2020 Award – $2,500 award to support campus initiatives to implement the goals of Healthy Campus 2020 

NEW! Stephan D. Weiss Student Mental Health Award – $2,500 award to promote and improve the quality of mental health support for college students (available to undergrad or graduate student applicants enrolled at ACHA member institutions)

NEW! Student Health 101 Award – $2,500 award to support new efforts to improve and promote health education programs on college campuses

UnitedHealthcare StudentResources Initiatives in College Mental and Behavioral Health Award – $5,000 award to support the development of creative solutions and programs to address issues specifically related to mental and behavioral health issues affecting college students

Stephan D. Weiss, PhD Mental Health Fund for Higher Education Writing Prize – $1,500 prize for the lead author of a pivotal publication in college mental health

It’s important to note that until recently, ACHF funding opportunities were referred to as grants. It was brought to our attention that some institutions require applicants who are applying for grant funding to complete lengthy internal documentation.

This process takes up a considerable amount of time, and time is something busy college health professionals don’t have much of. To make the application process less cumbersome, the term has now been changed to “awards,” but the program is otherwise unchanged – except for the addition of four new awards, of course! We hope that by making this change, many more deserving applicants will be able to apply for ACHF funding.

These awards are available exclusively to ACHA members or college health professionals at a member institution. The Weiss Student Mental Health Award is available only to student applicants. 

For more information on specific awards, visit “How to Apply for Funding, Awards, and the Weiss Writing Prize.” Be sure to submit your applications by January 31, 2014!