MORE NEWSLETTERS
from the Immunization Action Coalition:
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Coalition Activities
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National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 2-8, 2012)
BCIC collaborated with Parish nurses to get the word out to our community about the importance of influenza protection throughout
the entire flu season. Packets were created to assist parish nurses in outreach to congregations including fact sheets about disease
prevention for influenza, shingles, and pertussis.
World Series Immunization Champion Education Dinner
The World Series Immunization Champion Education Dinner Program was held on
October 25, 2012 at the Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland, PA, for eighty medical providers from throughout Bucks County. Dr. Dyer, Judith Coates
and Diane McGowan offered presentations designed to provide up-to-date education to health care providers in order to improve health
outcomes in the field of immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases. The following were the objectives for this program, and all
attending earned 2.5 continuing education credits:
- Describe the latest updates from the CDC on vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccines
- Implement current advisory committee on immunization practice (ACIP) recommendations in their practice or organization
- Apply principles of practice-based changes to improve immunization rates
- Address patient and parent questions about vaccine safety and guidelines
- Describe the impact of influenza disease on families and communities
All attendees received packets and immunization materials that provided guidance about 3 main topic themes:
- Safe vaccine administration-CDC Immunization Schedules/posters/VPD quick guide fact sheets/BCIC brochures/SIIS Registry info/BCDH immunization clinic booklets/vaccine guidance for contraindications, administration techniques, site and routes
- Vaccine Storage and Handling materials-refrigerator/freezer set up/emergency preparedness plan for vaccine transport with power outage or equipment failure/Best practice policies for correct vaccine storage and handling
- Addressing Vaccine Concerns -- All Star Pediatrics Vaccine policy; articles by Dr Ari Brown, Dr Seth Mnookin; CHOP fact sheets; Academy of Pediatrics Refusal forms; Vaccine Exemption Risks; A Book titled- The Forgotten Story
Influenza Vaccination Program
September 29, 2012 marked the kickoff of the BCDH Influenza Vaccination Program. BCDH held its seventh annual
Pandemic Flu Drill at three drive-through locations. Designed to simulate an
actual emergency, the drill was a great way to practice "skills in caring for mass population" while vaccinating thousands of
people for the upcoming flu season. Approximately 260 staff and volunteers from the BCDH, Medical Reserve Corps, community
volunteers, and Major Incident Response Team participated in the drill. At the 3 locations, nearly 4,000 vaccinations were
administered, including 1200 at Sellersville Firehouse, 1,200 at Northampton Fire company, and 1500 at Levittown fire Co. #2.
During the month of October and November, BCDH collaborated with the Area Agency on Aging, MRC, BCHIP, and local hospitals to
provide eight influenza clinics at senior centers and other community sites. BCDH also offers flu vaccines at all 3 offices
during regularly scheduled vaccination clinics.
August 2012: National Immunization Awareness Month
It's a World Series Championship Year for the BCIC as we strive to "strike out diseases" with our "Cover Your Bases, Get Immunized"
theme. By sponsoring the Quakertown Youth Baseball pony team, this year we were all "winners" by partnering with this organization to
promote good health and displaying our important vaccination message on the billboard for all the families visiting the sports fields to see.
Adult Immunization Awareness Night at Citizens Bank Park was a huge HIT on August 20, 2012 with the Phillies scoring another WIN against the Cincinnati Reds
while the Immunization Team with Victor Vaccine entertained and educated the fans with the "Cover Your Bases, Get Immunized" message.
June 2012: Adolescent Immunization Awareness Month
The BCIC partnered with many more restaurants, YMCA camps, senior centers, colleges, pools, and ice cream/water ice facilities over
the summer months promote our immunization message "Slide into Summer and Cover your Bases" with your families immunizations all up
to date. Each facility partnership has pledged to take 100-500 placemats to help increase public awareness of immunizations.
Flyers were developed to promote HPV clinics. BCDH partnered with the student
life services at BCCC which gave BCIC the opportunity to work with the student nurse club helping to advertise this service and
increase attendance at the clinic. Materials reviewing HPV disease and prevention with vaccination were distributed to the college
and made available at the student center. Student Life director and staff advertised and placed displays in student center, at
financial needs area, library and facebook. Presentation for nusing program was held at the BCCC in May.
Medical Assistant Training
Bucks County Immunization Coalition (BCIC) along with the Bucks County Health Department announced
their annual workshop for all Bucks County Medical Assistants. This was a free workshop held on June 27, 2012 with 2 sessions,
8:30am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm. A total of 40 medical assistants attended our program and received immunization information resource
packets to take back to their offices. The program focused on vaccine handling and storage, immunization prep and administration,
discussing parental concerns about vaccines and testing for tuberculosis. There was a slide presentation review and a speaker from
Bucks County Community College reviewing resources for MA's such as coding sessions for offices.
Each session reviewed the following topics, which included hands on mini workshops:
- What's New in Immunizations
- Immunization Techniques & new TB testing techniques
- Facts and Fiction Regarding Immunizations: Speaking to parents about vaccination concerns
- Vaccine Safety
- Resources available to support your practice
Active Aging Expo (May 18-19, 2012)
The Active Aging Expo was held at The Fuge in Warminster, PA.
- BCDH and BCIC had immunization displays and offered Tdap and Pneumovax vaccinations on site. The Bucks County Medical Reserve volunteers were also present displaying information about MRC, recruiting volunteers, and assisting with our vaccination efforts.
- Approximately 400 attendees visited the Expo over the 2 days.
- Bee Diddy and the Bee keeper greeted the public handing out Bee Bags with immunization messages for the whole family.
May 2012: Hepatitis Awareness Month
Flyers promoting a hepatitis conference sponsored by Hepatitis B Foundation for families affected by the disease were distributed
throughout the 13 school districts by our school nurses. Hepatitis Awareness displays were set up at the health department offices
for the public.
Vaccination outreach efforts ongoing to first responders, clients attending our STD/HIV services, and families
attending our immunization programs emphasizing the risks of Hepatitis disease and prevention and protection.
Presentation held at
the Bucks County Community college for 36 LPN students with immunization update and review of resources.
Health Care Worker Immunization Summit
The Health Care Worker Immunization Summit took place April 20, 2012 at the Bucks County Department of Health: BCIC in partnership
with Sanofi Pasteur and the PADOH hosted a Bucks County health care worker immunization education program. This was a great
opportunity to invite 25 of our Infection Preventionist nursing staff partners from the local hospitals, nursing homes, medical
provider practices, and schools. Featured speaker was Robin Piccinni from Abington Hospital. Topics focused on improving
vaccinations for healthcare workers in hospitals and nursing home settings emphasizing what vaccination programs are most effective
and giving examples of "Mandatory" vaccination requirement programs used at their facilities. Eric from Sanofi Pasteur presented an
excellent influenza update and Roxann from BCDH gave a review of the local disease stats within our Bucks County community. Several
of the hospital nurses attending shared their success stories and struggles to increase their HCW vaccination rates.
National Infant Immunization Week (April 21-28,2012)
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from
vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy
communities. Since 1994, NIIW has served as a call to action for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure that
infants are fully immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. BCIC has successfully promoted this important Immunization
week through the community educational outreach of 2500 placemats distributed throughout many of our Bucks County restaurants
frequented by families hailing the message "Slide into Summer Up to Date."
From diners, pizza and deli shops, to popular fast food and ice cream stops; the message was loud and clear; "Vaccinations are
for life," you are never too old for a shot and many adults need vaccines too in order to protect the more fragile family
members in our community.
A proclamation was announced by the Bucks County Commissioners as they joined our BCIC immunization quest to encourage public
and private health care providers, parents, and children's caregivers in Bucks County to advance the health of children by
ensuring on-time immunization against preventable childhood diseases.
The BCIC partnered with the Bucks County Head Start facilities that service over 600 children, and many child care organizations
throughout our community. We distributed a "coloring activity greeting card" to be prepared by the children and sent home to the
parents thanking them for keeping their children up to date and promoting the CDC childhood immunization schedule as well as
"healthy tips for parents" to assess their own immunization status for Tdap and Flu protection.
Shingles Outreach
The BCIC partnered with Area Agency on Aging to provide outreach to seniors at Senior Center facilities educating them about need
for their members to receive protection from Shingles disease through vaccination. We presented at 5 Senior Center locaitons:
3/14/12-Neshaminy Senior Center; 3/15-Middletown Senior Center; 3/16-Bristol Senior Center; 3/23-Northampton Senior Center; and
3/29 Bensalem Senior Center, where over 100 seniors received education about shingles disease and prevention with vaccination,
insurance plans reviewed. Clinics were held at each center and over 100 Zostavax doses were administered. Bucks County DOH now
has FREE Zoster vaccine for uninsured and underinsured adults who are 60 years and older.
Vaccinate Before You Graduate
The "Vaccinate Before You Graduate" Program message was sent out to 18,000 families throughout our 13 school districts
empowering parents of all 5th and 10th graders to assess their child's immunization record and take action to make an appointment
with their physician to assure their adolescents immunizations are up to date. The BCIC partnered with the Bucks County School
Nurses, the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, and the Pennsbury school district's M.O.S.T. program and the RSVP prepared the
immunization information toolkits. This package also included the school law changes going into effect as of May 2012 and offered
families guidance on what vaccines would be required.
A letter from the Bucks County Department of Health Medical Director, Dr. Damsker, encouraged parents to take the steps needed to
assure their child's good health and prevent these diseases through diligent vaccination. He reminds parents that when it comes to
keeping our children healthy, one of the easiest, and yet most effective ways to promote wellness is to make certain that our kids
are 100% up-to-date on all of the childhood vaccines. Unfortunately, these diseases continue to exist in Bucks County. In the past
year, there have been multiple outbreaks of whooping cough and chicken pox, and even cases of measles. In order to protect your
children properly, as well as the other children in your children's school (especially ones with compromised immune systems who
cannot protect themselves), parents need to take the time to make sure their children are fully vaccinated.
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Past Coalition Activities:
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