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What's the Buzz?
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School Nurse Immunization Education Program/Dinner (2-27-08) — The Bucks County DOH and the Bucks
County Immunization Coalition along with Sanofi Pasteur sponsored an immunization up date education program attended
by school nurses and medical providers at the Bucks County Country Club. Presentations included: Meningococcal and
Pertussis disease and vaccinations (Tdap, MCV4); School Law Changes.
Vaccinate Before You Graduate — In partnership with the Bucks County School Nurses Association
were able to complete an adolescent immunization project where 16,000+ packets of vaccination information were
prepared with the help of RSVP senior volunteers distributed to all the 5th graders and 10th graders in Bucks County
throughout 13 school districts. The packets included a summary of the vaccines recommended for adolescents 11-18
years of age, a parent letter describing vaccine preventable diseases, a brochure titled "Prevention for
Preteens," info regarding adult vaccines, and the BCDH clinic contact information.
National Infant Immunization Week-NIIW (April 19-26) was celebrated with a grand kickoff at the Silver Lake
Nature Center 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 2,011 Tdap vaccinations to Buck 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 9,327 doses of vaccines to children 18 and under with 2,251 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 NIIW included:
- Bee Diddy Placemats were distributed to local diners,
restaurants, shelters and food pantries throughout Bucks County during the month of April which helped to carry
the important immunization message of what vaccines are needed across the lifespan to the families dining at
these facilities.
- "Bee Diddy Appearances around town":
- First Friday of Doylestown Community (4-4-08)
- BCHIP Walk (4-26-08)
- Lenape Middle School Health Fair(5-14-08)
- CHOP/Chalfont Facility Health Fair (5-17-08)
The Bucks County Department of Health and the Bucks County Immunization Coalition were invited to display
their educational materials for the students, families and the general public attending these events about staying
healthy with immunizations. Bee Diddy and the Bee Keeper were a big hit as they strolled the streets of Doylestown,
the halls of the Lenape Middle School, and the nature trails at Tyler State Park, greeting community members with
fun coloring books, stickers and immunization records for everyone with the important message to Bee Cool, Bee Wise,
Bee Immunized!
- Family Place Workshop/Play n Learn:
Quakertown James Michener Library (4-29-08)
This was another fun event that gave the BCDH and BCIC the opportunity to reach out to families with children
as an important resource to their immunization needs. Our theme of this event was to promote vaccines across the
lifespan, helping parents understand that by protecting themselves with a Tdap vaccination against Pertussis disease,
and influenza vaccination, they are protecting their more fragile family members: infants, children, and
grandparents.
- Partnership with Children and Youth (4-21-08) — The Bucks County Immunization Coalition and the
Children and Youth staff teamed up to complete an immunization campaign to 150 Foster Parent homes to educate
these families about the importance of up-to-date immunizations across the lifespan.
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