The Immunization Initiative of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) is dedicated to fully immunizing Massachusetts children and adolescents against vaccine preventable diseases. This is accomplished through advocacy, collaboration, education, and communication of best practices for optimizing vaccine uptake.
WHO WE ARE
The Immunization Initiative works with MCAAP members and other stakeholders to identify and achieve goals related to improving vaccine access and delivery, awareness and policy. Its membership includes MCAAP members and community partners, such as pediatric healthcare and public health professionals, community leaders, non-profit organizations, vaccine manufacturers, and others who are interested in improving Massachusetts childhood immunization rates.
The MCAAP Immunization Initiative meets two to three times per year. Its membership includes physicians and nurses, MDPH Immunization Program officials, and representatives from organizations interested in improving immunization practices and immunization rates in communities across Massachusetts.
MANAGING TEAM AND STAFF
Immunization Initiative Medical Director
Lloyd D. Fisher, MD, FAAP
Immunization Initiative Committee
David Norton, MD, FAAP, Chair
Everett Lamm, MD, FAAP, Co-Chair
Immunization Initiative Program Manager
Cynthia McReynolds, MBA
cmcreynolds@mcaap.org
Your participation is welcome and membership in the Immunization Initiative is free! To join, please contact Cynthia McReynolds, Program Manager, MCAAP Immunization Initiative (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org; 781.895.9850).
What’s New at the Immunization Initiative
Upcoming Events and Meetings
May and June 2025
2025 MDPH Immunization Updates Webinars
Click here for more information and to register for the webinars.
Immunization Resources
- Measles Resources
- Advisories
- AAP
- Think Measles Handout.
- Fact Checked: The Measles Vaccine is Safe and Effective.
- Measles Patient Care webpage.
- Measles Toolkit.
- The Use of Vitamin A in the Management of Measles 5-minute webinar. Redbook Online Webinar (3/10/25).
- Identifying Measles in the Pediatric Setting 5-minute webinar. Redbook Online Webinar (4/1/24).
- CDC
- Be Ready for Measles Toolkit.
- Measles Cases and Outbreaks webpage.
- Clinical Overview of Measles webpage.
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare Settings.
- Plan for Travel webpage.
- MDPH
- Measles webpage. [Includes additional resources in multiple languages: Chinese (simplified), Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese.]
- Measles webpage. [Includes additional resources in multiple languages: Chinese (simplified), Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese.]
- 2025 Immunization Schedules
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Vaccine Recommendations
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) – Immunization
- American Academy of Pediatrics Immunizations webpage
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccines website
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Immunization Division website
- Immunize.org website
- Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) website
Upcoming Educational Activities and Events
2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series
Please check back! Information about upcoming 2025 Vaccine Education Series webinars will be posted as it becomes available.
Click here for information about the 2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series.
Recent Meetings and Webinars
Please note: Unless indicated, CME/CEU credit is not available for completing a webinar recording.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series
Measles Update: Spring 2025
Presenters: Angela Fowler, MD, MPH, Associate Medical Director for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Massachusetts Department of Public Health; John Snyder, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Amherst Pediatrics; Nancy Harrington, BS, Epidemiologist, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Webinar recording
Dr. Fowler’s presentation
Dr. Snyder’s presentation
Webinar resource list
Webinar attendee questions & answers
Additional Resources:
Asks the Experts: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (Immunize.org)
Be Ready for Measles Toolkit (CDC)
Thursday, March 13, 2025
2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series
2025 Pertussis Update
Presenters:
Angela Fowler, MD, MPH, Associate Medical Director for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Christine Nguyen, MPH, Epidemiologist I, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Webinar recording
Webinar presentation
Thursday, March 6, 2025
2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series
2025 Immunization Schedules Update
Presenter: Angela Fowler, MD, MPH, Associate Medical Director for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Webinar recording
Webinar presentation
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series
Immunization in Immigrant Communities: Challenges & Best Practices
Presenters:
Fiona Danaher, MD, MPH, Director, MGH Center for Immigrant Health; Chair, MGH Immigrant Health Coalition
Priya Sarin Gupta, MD, MPH, Medical Director for Clinical Community Programs, Mass General Brigham; Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Vandana Madhavan, MD, MPH, Clinical Director of Pediatric Infectious Disease and a rimary care pediatrician, Mass General for Children
Webinar recording
Webinar presentation
Thursday, December 5, 2024
A Father’s Story – Storytelling and Motivational Interviewing to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake
Presenter: Jeb Teichman, MD, FAAP, Families Fighting Flu
Webinar recording
Webinar presentation
Webinar resources
Additional resources:
1. Maternal RSV vaccine information (Pfizer’s Abrysvo), CDC’s Immunizations to Protect Infants website
2. Current guidance for influenza vaccine and egg allergy:
“Any influenza vaccine that is otherwise appropriate for the recipient’s age and health status (egg based or non-egg based) can be administered to persons with egg allergy.” Source: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—United States, 2024-25 – Summary of Recommendations
Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM
2024-2025 Influenza Season Update
Presenter: Lisa Grohskopf, MD, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Webinar recording
Webinar presentation
Webinar resources
Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM
Accessible Vaccination: A First Step Toward Health Equity
Presenter: Danielle Hall, Director, Health Equity Initiative, Autism Society
Webinar recording
Webinar resources
Tuesday, August 27, 2024,12:00-1:00 PM
Pregnancy and Newborn Immunization During the 2024-2025 Respiratory Illness Season
Presenters:
Ai-ris Collier, MD, FACOG, Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Co-Director, Clinical Trials Unit, Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center;
Naima Joseph, MD, MPH, FACOG, Assistant Professor, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center;
Mary Beth Miotto, MD, MPH, FAAP, Immediate Past President, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Webinar recording
Dr. Collier’s presentation
Dr. Joseph’s presentation
Dr. Miotto’s presentation
MCAAP Nirsevimab Resource Packet
MDPH/MCAAP/MMS HPV Webinar (CME)
Increasing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Uptake in Massachusetts
Presenters: Lloyd Fisher, MD, FAAP, and Sherri Zorn, MD, FAAP. CME-CEU credit is available for completing the webinar. Click here to access the webinar.
2024 MDPH Immunization Updates Webinars
Webinar presentations and recordings can be found here.
Thursday, February 1, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series
Updates in ACIP Recommendations for the 2024 Childhood/Adolescent and Adult Immunization Schedules
Webinar recording
Dr. Wodi’s presentation
Webinar Resource List
Thursday, January 18, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series
2024 Human Papillomavirus Update
Webinar recording
Dr. Becker’s presentation
Dr. Fisher’s presentation
Dr. Russo’s presentation
Webinar Resource List
June 29, 2023, 12:00-1:00 PM
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series
Vaccine Refresher! Preventing Vaccine Administration Errors
Presenter: JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, Nurse Educator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
