ATTENTION PARENTS
For information about the vaccinations required for children in school in 2010/2011,
click here.
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MORE NEWSLETTERS
from the Immunization Action Coalition:
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Coalition Activities
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A Flu Season to Remember
On November 5, 2009, Dr. David Damsker, director of the Bucks County Health Department, announced plans to immunize
students throughout Bucks County with the H1N1 vaccine. The Bucks County plan targeted the student population because
the PA Department of Health had reported that 60 percent of H1N1 cases were being seen in school age students 5-19.
The implementation plan was coordinated with all 13 school districts in Bucks County. In addition to school aged
children, the CDC priority groups were also included.
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). On January 20, 2010, the County Commissioners awarded
commendations to the Health Department, MIRT,MRC, and EMA for their collaborative efforts to protect the
residents of Bucks County against the H1N1 influenza.
The H1N1 vaccine is still available at each of the Bucks County Health Department offices. Please call the
Doylestown,
Quakertown, or
Levittown
office for more information on dates and times of clinics near you.
Some Sample Responses to H1N1 Mass Vaccination
As observed in a "Thumbs Up" Editorial in the Bucks County Courier Times newspaper in response to
the first swine flu clinic held at Harry S. Truman High School, Bristol Township, Bucks County on November 10th,
2009, where over 2,000 students received their H1N1 vaccine:
"From the police directing traffic, to the orange- and green-vested health and law enforcement personnel
efficiently leading parents and children to the proper lines, to the hoard of nurses lined up at tables waving
their hands in the air to indicate they were ready for the next child, we were back in our car quicker than my
average trip to the grocery store. A job well done." (read the complete editorial
here).
Influenza Protection is the Goal — Avoid the Penalty, Get the Shot
These were the two themes emphasized at our second Immunization Event as the Philadelphia Flyers vs. the Ottawa Senators
game on December 10, 2009. BCIC along with other regional immunization coalitions participated in this Adult Immunization
Awareness campaign with emphasis on Influenza and Pertussis protection. Those who purchased discounted tickets prior to
this event received a T-shirts echoing our theme "Influenza Protection is the Goal — Avoid the Penalty,
Get the Shot."
In addition to being listed as a group on the Jumbotron, a video was shown during the intermissions: A Public Service
announcement featuring Jennifer Lopez and the "Sounds of Pertussis." This was a project co-sponsored by the
March of Dimes and Sanofi Pasteur working together to help protect the health and wellness of adults and infants.
School Nurse Dinner Program
Dr. Wolynn
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Sponsored by MedImmune, Inc., and held on October 7, 2009 at the Villa Barolo Restaurant, the topic was "Influenza,
Updated recommendations regarding Flumist." The featured speaker was Dr. Todd Wolynn, MD of Pediatric Alliance,
Pittsburgh, PA. Eighty healthcare providers attended including school nurses and public health department staff. Packets
were distributed to each attendee with educational information reviewing immunization schedules for child, adolescent
and adults with emphasis on influenza protection with seasonal and H1N1 vaccines.
Bucks County Community College Annual Childcare Conference
with Bucks County Association for the Education of
Young Children
October 3, 2009 — Attended by approximately 600 childcare staff who are educators from a multitude of early
childhood programs that provide care for infants through school age children. There was an Immunization Health Fair table
displaying a tri-fold and pamphlets on information on immunizations across the lifespan. Special emphasis was placed on
infant and childhood immunizations, also vaccine recommendations for childcare employees e.g. Tdap, Hepatitis A and B,
and H1N1 vaccine and yearly influenza vaccines. Tdap and Pneumococcal vaccines were provided to staff requesting
immunizations at site. 500 gift bags were filled with information on immunizations and were distributed to the attendees.
Morgan Thomas, age 11, was also at this conference to display her recently published book, The Saturday Shot: A Nellie
Park Adventure. Morgan's book takes you through a creative journey with Nellie Park, a girl who is facing her biggest
fear — the needle. The Saturday Shot is the perfect remedy for kids of all ages dealing with that dreaded
visit to the doctor's for a shot.
Bucks County Immunization Champion Dinner
Dr. Domachowske
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On September 23, 2009, the Bucks County Immunization Champion Dinner (sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur) was held at the Spring
Mill Country Club. The guest speaker was Dr. Joseph B. Domachowske, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,
and Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the State University of NY Upstate Medical University. He presented
an Immunization update focusing on Adolescents and Influenza.
Program topics included: Meningococcal disease epidemiology; recent trends of Pertussis disease in the US; vaccine prevention
strategies; and review of new recommendations for immunization of adolescence. This program also included a mini presentation
by the Health Department reviewing seasonal and novel H1N1 influenza vaccination plans, and Recognition of Immunization
Champions in Bucks County. Fifty medical providers attended this program where six practices were honored for "most
improved" and "best immunization rates."
Medical Assistant Training: Immunization Update
On September 11, 2009, the Bucks County Immunization Coalition hosted a second Immunization training for Medical Assistants
at the Bucks County Department of Health, Neshaminy Manor Center Auditorium. 15 MA staff attended for a 3 hour course
immunization update review and instruction. Participants received packets with power point review and workshop skills
sessions to assist them in increasing their knowledge of Vaccine Preventable diseases with emphasis on prevention with
immunization and correct immunization techniques and proper storage/handling of vaccines.
PHILLIES IMMUNIZATION EVENT
Celebration of National Immunization Awareness Month, August 2009
For the second year in a row during a home Phillies MLB game, the Immunization Coalitions of Southeastern Pennsylvania
(Bucks County, Chester County, Montgomery County, Lehigh County, Delaware County and Philadelphia) joined together as a
council for an Adult Immunization Awareness Night. On 8/18/09 the Phillies played a winning game and beat the Arizona
Diamondbacks to a sold out crowd. Over 1000 of the attending ticketholders were family members and friends of the Coalitions.
Highlights of the event included Dr. Paul Offit's toss of the first pitch of the game. Additionally, the Bucks County
Immunization Coalition Mascot "Bee Diddy" interacted with the Philly Fanatic and the Bee Keeper. There was also a
three-minute video made by PA DOH State focusing on Adult immunizations that featured two testimonials, namely:
- A family adopting a child from India, where all family members required specific vaccinations to travel to this
country to meet their new addition.
- A patient with a complex medical history required specific vaccines due to a weakened immunity. This story emphasized
the importance of vaccines needed by family members and friends in order to better protect a vulnerable person.
Bucks County Health Department Represented at
43rd Annual National Immunization Conference in Dallas
From March 30-April 2, 2009, Bucks County Health Department specialists Janice Anastasi and Ann Gordon personally
delivered a slice of southeastern Pennsylvania to the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. The occasion was the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) 43rd Annual National Immunization Conference. During the event, Anastasi and Gordon
represented the group that worked together to plan and execute a regional Adult Immunization Awareness event at the
Philadelphia Phillies home, Citizens Bank Park.
"We had a great conference, and people were very interested in our poster review," Ms. Anastasi reported.
Pictured here, decked out in Philadelphia Phillies T-shirts with display-board pictures from the awareness event that took
place last August (including Health Department immunization mascot, Bee Diddy), are Ms. Anastasi (left) and Ms. Gordon (right).
Vaccinate Before You Graduate - 2009
A BCIC partnership with Bucks County School Nurse Association and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program provided
17,000 toolkits to parents of all fifth and tenth grade students throughout Bucks County.
A total of 7,500 fifth grade packets were sent out. These reviewed future
school law changes
and promoted vaccines for Middle School.
Tenth grade packets stressed the theme "Vaccinate Before you Graduate." There were 8,500 packets
distributed to parents describing vaccines needed by adolescents between the ages of 11–18 years old.
Volunteers worked for hours to help get the message out to parents, providing them with important information
to discuss with their physicians.
School Nurse Immunization Education Program/Dinner (4-15-09)
The Bucks County Department of Health and the Bucks County Immunization Coalition along with Merck Pharmaceutical Co.
sponsored an immunization update education program attended by school nurses and medical providers at the Villa Barolo
restaurant in Warrington. Presentation was "Reducing the Risk of Cervical Cancer and Genital Warts in Girls and
Women" by speaker Marie Savard, BSN, MD. Dr. Savard is a frequent speaker and spokesperson on behalf of a wide
array of health issues, featured in print, radio and television for ABC News, appearing regularly on Good Morning
America, Today Show, and Oprah.
Medical Assistant Training Program (4-24-09)
The Bucks County Department of Health and the Bucks County Immunization Coalition sponsored a program for Medical
Assistants to review vaccine practices and immunization techniques.
Eighteen Medical Assistant staff attended a three-hour
course for an immunization update. Participants received an immunization toolkit and participated in workshop skill
sessions to assist them in increasing their knowledge of Vaccine Preventable diseases, correct immunization techniques
and proper storage and handling of vaccines.
National Infant Immunization Week-NIIW (April 25 - May 2)
National Infant Immunization Week was celebrated with a grand kickoff at the Delaware
Valley College Market Place where the Bucks County Commissioners awarded a proclamation to Bee Diddy and the Bucks
County immunization nurses honoring the importance of infant immunization awareness throughout the County of Bucks and
served as a call to parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to participate in activities and recognition events
to challenge everyone to assess their immunization status and protect our community from vaccine preventable diseases.
Special recognition was given to the outreach efforts of the Bucks County Immunization program for providing 1,527 Tdap
vaccinations to Bucks Countians age 11-64 to primarily control the spread of Pertussis disease from adults to the infant
and small child population. The Bucks County DOH immunization clinics were recognized for providing over 9,536 doses of
vaccines to children 18 and under with 3,216 doses specifically administered to infants 24 months and younger in order
to protect them from 14 serious vaccine preventable diseases. The Bucks County Commissioners finalized the proclamation
with a request encouraging all businesses, schools, government agencies, national and community-based organizations and
service groups to spread the important immunization message throughout their communities and follow the lead of Bee Diddy,
to "Bee Cool, Bee Wise, Bee Immunized".
Other activities that helped to increase immunization awareness and celebrate National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) included:
- Bee Diddy Placemats were distributed at the Senior Expo hosted
at Delaware Valley College on May 28th which helped to carry the important immunization message of what vaccines are
needed across the lifespan to the families attending this health fair.
- 12 poster boards prepared for NIIW with theme of "Love them, Protect them, Immunize them" and
displays created around infants photos by Ann Gedding. Displays were set up in 7 area hospitals, 3 health department
offices, and 3 libraries throughout the county.
- William Tennent High School Health Fair (5-22-09) Table with a trifold and educational materials promoting
Adolescent Immunizations.
- Childcare Conference at The Health & Wellness Center of Doylestown Hospital (6-11-09) with a trifold
promoting immunizations across the lifespan. A mini immunization clinic was held where Tdap vaccine was administered to
childcare employees to prevent infant Pertussis.
- "Bee Diddy Appearances around town":
- First Friday of Doylestown Community (4-3-09)
- Delaware Valley College Marketplace (4-15-09)
- York County State Health Center (4-27-09)
- Groveland Elementary School Health Fair (5-13-09)
Community Outreach Immunization Presentation (3-25-2009)
The "Family Place Workshop / Play and Learn" at the Quakertown James Michener Library was attended by 25 parents with children.
BCDH had nurses attend with immunization display and education materials promoting immunizations across the lifespan. A
trifold display was set up to highlight the childhood immunizations, adolescent, and adult. Packets 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. 2009 BCDH immunization booklets, and BCDH Services
brochures and BCIC pamphlets were available. The library staff will continue to promote our immunization info throughout
the year. Our trifold display was used in the general library circulation area for the month of April to gain recognition
in celebration of NIIW.
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