Hello SPN Members,
Over the past few months, you have undoubtedly been watching with concern the news of a measles outbreak in western Texas, which as of this writing has spread to 309 individuals, with 40 requiring hospitalization and 1 confirmed death. The majority of the cases have occurred in children and youth under the age of 18, which serves as an important reminder of the responsibility we have as pediatric nurses to promote immunization as the key prevention strategy for vaccine-preventable diseases.
The current political climate has made our role as vaccination advocates all the more important. The arrival of new leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has raised concerns about the federal government’s commitment to ensuring sufficient population-level vaccination rates to prevent re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Statements by the new Secretary of HHS have offered potentially misleading interpretations of both the causes and the treatments available for measles, adding to the misinformation that undermines public trust in vaccination. A recent announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about an upcoming large-scale study of the link between vaccination and autism suggests an unnecessary re-litigation of existing evidence and may further undermine trust in immunization. Research into mRNA vaccine technology, which helped to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic, is being restricted, and researchers who study vaccine hesitancy have had their federal grants terminated.
These concerning developments will make our work as pediatric vaccination advocates more difficult, but now is the moment to recommit to this important work. We have an opportunity in our day-to-day interactions with patients and families to provide education about the importance of immunization, affirm the safety and efficacy of vaccines, and use evidence-based strategies to support those with vaccine hesitancy. We can also raise our voices as health experts and child health advocates to combat vaccine misinformation and affirm the importance of vaccinations in both individual and public health. This issue is a top priority for SPN’s Healthcare Policy and Advocacy Committee, and SPN will be working in the months ahead to ensure that you have the resources and information necessary to help combat vaccination misinformation and support the health of our pediatric patients and families.
The SPN 35th Annual Conference is just around the corner!
This year’s gathering will be April 30-May 2 in Anaheim, California, at the Disneyland Hotel. We’ve seen record-setting registration, and are so excited to gather with SPN members and other pediatric nurses from around the country to celebrate 35 years of pediatric nursing excellence! We have a fantastic lineup of over 120 different speakers, 130+ poster presentations, and 25+ exhibitors. You’ll be able to earn up to 23.50 NCPD contact hours, and we’re also hosting a 50th anniversary party for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board! If you haven’t yet registered, there’s still time — and a small number of hotel rooms are still available — so sign up now! You won’t want to miss this year’s event. To those who have already registered, I look forward to meeting you soon in Anaheim!