Vaccines

TMA Testifies on a Flurry of Public Health, Insurance Bills - 03/24/2023

As of the March 10 bill filing deadline, state lawmakers had introduced more than 9,000 pieces of legislation, establishing a new record and teeing up the Texas Medical Association’s busiest session yet.

Talk to Patients About: Vaccines for Older Adults - 03/01/2023

This material is designed to help you talk to your patients and help them understand the benefits of vaccines.

The Unwinding: What the End of the PHE Means for COVID Vaccines, Testing, and Treatments - 02/01/2023

The COVID-19 crisis spurred an unprecedented combination of public health initiatives and funding, much of it made possible by the public health emergency (PHE) declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in January 2020. When the PHE expires, what will happen to crucial vaccines, testing, and treatments?

Order Multiple COVID Vaccine Categories in New VAOS Process - 01/31/2023

A new process in the state Vaccine Allocation and Ordering System (VAOS) will significantly reduce the amount of data entry required from physician practices when ordering COVID-19 vaccines.

Many Adults Don’t Know They Should Get COVID Booster, CDC Survey Says - 01/31/2023

A lot of U.S. adults aren’t getting the COVID-19 bivalent booster, and a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helps explain why: Most likely, they don’t know about it, don’t know they’re eligible for it, or don’t think they need it.

Texas on Guard Following Ohio Measles Outbreak - 01/19/2023

A recent outbreak of measles among unvaccinated children in Ohio prompted the Texas Department of State and Health Services to issue a health advisory with guidance for physicians and other health care professionals should they encounter the disease.

As Flu and RSV Drop Omicron Subvariant Poses Unknown Threat - 01/18/2023

A flu and respiratory syncytial virus season that began early and intensely already may have peaked, but other illnesses, including the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant of the COVID-19 virus, remain threats.

Pfizer COVID Vaccine Available in Single Doses to Improve Outreach, HHS Announces - 12/05/2022

Physicians eager to combat COVID-19 continue to look for ways to make the vaccines easier for patients to access. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently took an important step in that direction by offering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to physicians in single-dose vials for patients 12 and older, says Dallas infectious disease specialist Trish Perl, MD, a member of the Texas Medical Association’s COVID-19 Task Force.

Flu and RSV Patients Filling Up Texas Hospitals - 11/08/2022

Two viral respiratory diseases – influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – have made an unwelcome early appearance this fall, causing cases to rise sharply weeks earlier than normal across the U.S.

Talk to Patients About: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) - 09/06/2021

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is the early warning system for vaccine safety in the U.S. While it’s important for identifying vaccine side effects, the data it collects can be misunderstood.

Update: HHS Unveils Plan for Third Shots of Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines - 08/20/2021

The federal government Wednesday announced a plan to offer booster shots for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines beginning in about a month, subject to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “conducting an independent evaluation and determination of the safety and effectiveness” of those third shots.

DSHS Asks Vaccine Administrators to Prepare for COVID-19 Boosters - 08/19/2021

Following the federal government’s announcement of its plan to offer booster shots for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is asking those who are providing those vaccines to review their inventories, and identify and contact patients “who fall within the suggested booster schedule.”

CDC Recommends Pfizer, Moderna Booster for Immunocompromised - 08/17/2021

If you have patients with moderately to severely compromised immune systems, and they received either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending a third shot.