ATTENTION PARENTS
For information about the vaccinations required for children in school in 2011/2012,
click here.
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MORE NEWSLETTERS
from the Immunization Action Coalition:
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2010 Coalition Activities
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National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec 5-11, 2010)
We took a "bite out of influenza" as the Immunization Coalitions of Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) from
the counties of Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Lancaster, Lehigh, Delaware and Philadelphia "rallied together"
at the Philadelphia Flyers vs. San Jose Sharks hockey game on December 8, 2010. It was an exciting Adult Immunization
Awareness Night as the supertron flashed the Immunization video to thousands of fans with Fast Facts "shooting on
goal" (click here to view video). The
first 300 fans were awarded orange and black t-shirts sporting the theme: "Influenza Protection is the Goal —
Avoid the Penalty, Take the Shot." Click here for more ideas about
NIVW events. This event is designed to raise awareness of the importance of continuing seasonal influenza (flu)
vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine through the month of December and into the early months of 2011.
BCIC Immunization Champion Dinner Program
Held at the Spring Mill Country Club on October 19, 2010, featured speaker Dr. Paul Offit addressed the topic: "Speaking
to Parents about Vaccine Concerns." One hundred forty-six medical providers attended and CEU/CME certificates were awarded.
Champion Awards were distributed to medical practices in the community for their excellence and promotion of timely and effective
immunizations for the children of Bucks County. Recipients of the 2010 Champion Awards included: Children's Health Associates,
Cambridge Point Pleasant, Bensalem Medical Practice, Woods Services, and Dublin Family Practice.
SEPA Immunization Coalitions "TEAM UP" with the PHILLIES
For the third year in a row during a home Phillies MLB game, the Immunization Coalitions of
Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) from the counties of Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Lancaster ,Lehigh,
Delaware and Philadelphia "TEAMED UP" with the Phillies for an exciting Adult Immunization Awareness
Night. On August 25, 2010 the Phillies played the Houston Astros to a sold out crowd where over 500 of the
attending ticketholders were family members and friends of the member Coalitions. Highlights of the
event included Mrs. Lisa Nutter, the wife of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, tossing out the first pitch
of the game. She was accompanied by the Bucks County Immunization Coalition Mascot, "Bee Diddy,"
with the Philly Phanatic and the Bee Keeper cheering from the dugout! A three-minute video depicted
"BATTERS UP AND RUNNING" for Adult immunizations which "HIT HOME" the important vaccine
messages about the prevention of diseases such as Influenza, Pertussis, Measles, and Mumps.
Click here to view the video.
Medical Practice Education Program
The Bucks County Immunization Coalition along with the Bucks County Department of Health hosted this education program on
July 9, 2010. Breakfast and refreshments were provided. Agenda topics presented and discussed included:
- 2010 Immunization Update and Changes to include the changes in School Law 2011/2012
- Tuberculosis and Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST)
- PA Statewide Immunization Information System (SIIS) - Immunization Registry Program
28 attended and participated in the program. (15 were staff from Community Medical Providers, 13 were Bucks County
Department of Health Staff). 3 full information packets containing educational materials on the 3 topics discussed were
provided to each attendant.
16th Annual Pennsylvania Immunization Conference (PAIC)
Held June 23-25, 2010 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA. The following topics were presented:
- Immunizations Across the Lifespan: Updates and Standards for Immunization Practice.
- Children & Vaccines: Adressing Parents' Concerns About Vaccine Safety.
- Pennsylvania Department of Health Epidemiology Statistics; Surveillance & Strategies.
- Adult Vaccines: Shingles.
- Pertussis: Immunization Strategies to Reduce this Vaccine Preventable Disease.
- Pertussis Outbreak: Case Study of a Family Practice.
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Experience with Influenza Vaccine and Healthcare Workers.
Bucks County Pertussis Health Education Summit
A dinner presentation on June 10, 2010 organized by BCIC and Sanofi Pasteur at Spring Mill Country Club in Ivyland, PA.
Presenter: Dr. Stephen Barone, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, Affiliated with Schneider
Children's Hospital.
Attendees: Medical Providers from the Bucks County area hospitals, other hospital staff such as Infection Prevention Nurses,
staff from Maternity/Labor and Delivery, staff from Community Physician's offices, Bucks County Immunization Coalition
members and Bucks County Department of Health Immunization staff.
The objectives of this interactive program were achieved and included the following:
- A brief overview was provided on the epidemiology of Pertussis and Tdap vaccination recommendations to prevent
transmission of Pertussis disease, specifically to vulnerable infants.
- Networking took place within the medical and public health communities to coordinate efforts to improve local
immunization rates.
- A forum was provided where participants shared results of current immunization and educational initiatives and
identified barriers to immunization in the community.
- Strategize ways to increase Pertussis (Tdap) immunization rates. A collaborative community action plan is going
to be developed to educate parents and new families to ensure they are vaccinated to protect their infants against Pertussis.
Here is the action plan from the summit meeting.
Health and Wellness Fair
Held on May 12, 2010 at Linden Elementary School in Doylestown, PA. Bucks County Department of Health staff attended with
"Bee Diddy" and the "Bee Keeper." An Immunization table with a trifold and educational materials
promoting immunizations across the lifespan were on display. Students/staff filtered to our Immunization Display table
throughout the day as they visited the gym. They learned about immunizations and received immunization records/holders.
Educational materials were provided in packets which were put together emphasizing Tdap vaccine for parents of young
children; influenza vaccine as universal protection for the whole family and great resources for the community to utilize
to keep them healthy. Vaccine education tools/activities were developed for students to participate in learning about
vaccine preventable diseases such as "word search" and "matching vaccine" fact sheets.
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)
- Bucks County Commissioners Meeting at Bensalem Library. On April 21, 2010, the Bucks County Department of Health
Immunization program, represented by Levittown office nursing staff, "Bee Diddy" and the "Bee
Keeper" received a Proclamation for NIIW. The Proclamation was read by the Commissioners to all that attended
which stated "we encourage Public and Private Healthcare providers, Parents and Children's caregivers in Bucks
County to advance the health of children by insuring on-time immunizations against preventable childhood diseases."
- Baby Shower Events were held at the Bucks County Department of Health (at the Levittown office on
April 28, 2010 and at the Quakertown office on April 30, 2010) to celebrate National Infant Immunization Week.
This was an initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of Childhood Immunizations before the age of 2.
This activity was sponsored by the Bucks County Immunization Coalition in partnership with Women, Infants and Children
program (WIC).
This celebration event was a huge success where 21 "mothers to be" attended. Presentations by Health Department
Nurses and Health Educators provided information on infant development; Immunizations, and on infant health and safety.
Attendees took part in various fun games, quizzes and raffles where prizes and gifts were awarded during their participation.
Every one received a gift bag full of written materials to include immunization schedules; vaccine information; comfort
measures for baby when receiving vaccines; parent resources and a "pledge card" to keep their baby up to date
with vaccinations.
44th National Immunization Conference
Held April 19-22, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia, the goals of the conference were to provide information that will help
participants provide comprehensive immunization coverage for all age groups and explore innovative strategies for
developing programs, policy, and research to promote immunization coverage for all age groups. During three and a
half days of plenary sessions and workshops, many topics were discussed, including:
- Adolescent Immunization
- Adult Immunization
- Assessment
- Barriers to Vaccination
- Community and Partnerships
- Childhood Immunization
- Cultural Diversity
- Global Immunization
- Surveillance
- Health Communications
- Health Education
- Policy and Legislation
- New Vaccines and Vaccine Development
- Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
- Vaccine Safety
- Immunization Registries
Medical Education Dinner Program
On March 24, 2010, MedImmune Inc. and the Bucks County Immunization Coalition held a Medical Education Dinner program
for all the School Nurses in the 13 School Districts in Bucks County. Location: Toscana Restaurant, Street Road, Trevose, PA.
Other attendants: included Bucks County Immunization Coalition members and Bucks County Department of Health Immunization
staff. Topics:
Dr. Feingold
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- "Updated recommendations regarding Flumist" Featured speaker Anat Feingold, Pediatric Infectious
Disease, Cooper Hospital.
- "Bucks County H1N1 Response / School Clinics" Featured speaker Suzanne Hecker, MPH CPH Public
Health Preparedness Planner, Bucks County Department of Health.
- "Vaccinate Before You Graduate" project. 17,000 packets containing information on CDC recommended
child / adolescent vaccines were distributed to the school nurses from 13 school districts at this dinner, to be
delivered to the 5th and 10th grade students.
Palisades Middle School Health Fair
Held on January 26, 2010 for the Palisades School District staff. 27 clients immunized, 36 immunizations given to
include H1N1 influenza, Pneumococcal, Tdap, and Td. A table with a trifold and information packets on immunizations
across the lifespan were on display.
A Flu Season to Remember 2009/2010
For a first time flu season event, the H1N1 influenza vaccine was made available from the Pennsylvania Department of
Health (PaDOH) and the Bucks County Department of Health. The implementation plan was coordinated with all 13 school
districts in Bucks County. Additional clinics were held in January 2010 offering the H1N1 vaccine to the general public.
These H1N1 mass vaccination clinics were a coordinated effort between the Health Department, law enforcement officers
of the Major Incident Response Team (MIRT), volunteers with the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), and the staff of the
Emergency Management Agency (EMA). In all, the dedicated efforts of all involved staff and volunteers resulted in the
successful completion of 21 H1N1 mass vaccination clinics and the administration of more than 67,000 H1N1 vaccines
between November 2009 and January 2010. The County Commissioners awarded Commendations to the Health Department, MIRT,
MRC, and EMA on January 20, 2010 for their collaborative efforts to protect the residents of Bucks County against the
H1N1 influenza.
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