Shots for Tots

Published: February 5, 1999

All around the US, thanks to the efforts of the John S. And James L. Knight Foundation, doctors, nurses, public health officials and ordinary folks are working together to boost the number of pre-schoolers and other children who are up-to-date on their immunizations. The two-year old Knight Immunization Initiative has scored some great successes! Immunization rates have skyrocketed in many communities.

The Childhood Immunization initiative has been active in 29 cities across the United States. Check out what the grantees did to promote immunization rates in their communities. Many of the organizations listed have opportunities for individual citizens to work on behalf of kids. (Remember to do your own investigation of any project you may want to work with.)

California · Florida · Georgia · Indiana · Kansas · Minnesota · North Carolina · North Dakota · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Washington, DC

Immunization efforts in California

California has been the site of a number of exciting immunization initiatives.

The Children's Clinic of Long Beach's Immunization Awareness Project

San Jose's "Kids In Common" campaign

The Children's Action Network National Immunization Campaign in Los Angeles

Long Beach, Calif.?The Long Beach Immunization Awareness Project has adopted a "No Barriers to Immunization Policy" as a way to educate health care providers about missed opportunities and encourage them to remove barriers in their private practice or health care organization. The project has developed a "contract" for providers willing to make a commitment to post the policy in their office and remove barriers in their practice.

For further information, contact The Children's Clinic, 2801 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90801.

Long Beach, Calif.?A close and productive relationship is developing between local media and the Children's Clinic of Long Beach and its partners. The project's director and outreach coordinator met with the publisher and selected staff of the Long Beach Press-Telegram to discuss the role the newspaper could play in reaching out to the community on the immunization issue. The Press-Telegram agreed to assign a contact person at the newspaper to work with the immunization initiative. The paper also agreed to run editorials and feature stories introducing immunization officials and the initiative to the local community.

In addition, the Press-Telegram volunteered free "advertising" space and published the names of doctors in the community who have signed their "Long Beach Immunization Project 'No Barriers to Immunization Policy' Contract."

For further information, contact The Children's Clinic, 2801 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90801.

San Jose, Calif.?A saturation education outreach campaign in a San Jose neighborhood was a useful exercise in developing culturally sensitive materials for a variety of ethnic populations, according to Kids In Common, Inc. The outreach campaign sparked a 733 percent increase in calls to the local child health care hotline in the six-week period following the campaign day.

Among the factors thought to contribute to this success were a pre-tested poster and pamphlet translated into the four primary languages of the neighborhood?English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Cambodian. Another key factor was the large number (roughly 60 percent) of the 500 volunteers who were bilingual.

For further information, contact Kids In Common, Inc., 555 South Market Street, Suite 1010, San Jose, CA 95113.

San Jose, Calif.?Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala visited San Jose-based Kids in Common on April 23 after the group had received a CDC award for ranking second nationwide in on-time immunization rates. Shalala came to San Jose specifically to congratulate the immunization partnership on its achievements and to help launch a county-wide immunization effort, known as ChIPS (Childhood Immunization Partnership for Santa Clara County). Secretary Shalala met with immunization officials and toured a local clinic. Among the achievements noted by Shalala was the dramatic increase in Santa Clara County's immunization rate from 62 percent in 1994 to 85 percent today.

For further information, contact Kids in Common, Inc., 555 South Market Street, suite 1010, San Jose, CA 95113.

Los Angeles, Calif.?The Children's Action Network National Immunization Campaign has put together a book that will summarize its work since its inception in 1991 and the proceedings from its October 1994 conference. The book also will share success stories and lessons learned, as well as provide contacts to immunization groups nationwide. The resource guide, funded by the Aetna Foundation, is currently available.

For further information, contact The Children's Action Network, 10951 W. Pico Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

Back to Top


Immunization efforts in Florida

TMH Regional Medical Center Foundation, Inc., in Tallahassee, Fla.

Bradenton, Florida's Manatee County Public Health Unit

Tallahassee, Fla.?Targeting non-English speaking audiences has been a priority of the TMH Regional Medical Center Foundation, Inc. The group has successfully formed partnerships with other organizations in the state to conduct focus groups and develop materials in both English and Spanish. Together with the University of South Florida, the Developmental Disabilities Council, and the Gadsden Citizens for Healthy Babies, the TMH Regional Medical Center Foundation is crafting a brochure to be translated into Spanish that will function as an immunization record-keeping device for both parents and providers.

The group is also putting together posters and leaflets in both English and Spanish. Joining up with the Center of Civic Education and Service at Florida State University, the foundation is conducting focus groups with Spanish speaking, as well as English speaking, parents to test materials before they are introduced into the community. The organizations involved in the project are doing a significant amount of research to ensure that the materials they generate are culturally appropriate. The foundation will also host a series of discussions for doctors and other providers that will focus in part on cultural barriers to immunization in doctors' offices.

For the PSAs the TMH Foundation is producing, voice overs will be translated into Spanish; the babies used in the spots represent diverse ethnic groups. TMH plans to share all of these efforts and products with other groups statewide, said Jenni Lind, grant coordinator.

For further information, contact TMH Regional Medical Center Foundation, Inc., 1331 East Sixth Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32303.

Tallahassee, Fla.?A February survey administered by Shots by 2 to a meeting of pediatricians practicing at a local hospital found that this particular group of doctors did not see themselves as missing opportunities and contributing to children's under-immunization. Instead, the pediatricians singled out a lack of prenatal education as the most important barrier to immunization. Next in importance, according to the physicians, was access and transportation to clinics. The physicians rated a reminder card mailing system and special access after-hours clinics as two key ways to boost immunizations.

For further information, contact Shots by 2, TMH Regional Medical Center Foundation, 1331 East Sixth Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32303.

Bradenton, Fla.?The Manatee County Public Health Unit is reaching out to key ethnic communities in the area in an effort to educate them about the need for childhood immunizations. The county has been fortunate in being able to take advantage of the broad array of immunization materials translated into several languages provided by the state of Florida. A significant Spanish speaking population resides in the county, as does a smaller community of Creole-speaking families.

The state of Florida and the CDC publish posters, pamphlets, and other materials in these languages that the county health department then uses to communicate with non-English speaking families. A bilingual volunteer aids the county in reaching non-English speaking families. The health department also distributes materials in Spanish and other languages to parents of newborns and sends a mobile unit into areas with large minority populations. Immunization workers have traveled to local migrant labor camps to offer WIC and immunization services to residents. Finally, the public health unit participates in numerous community events, such as health fairs, and offers speakers to local non-English speaking community groups as well.

For further information, contact Manatee County Public Health Unit, 410-6th Ave., East, Bradenton, FL 34208.

Back to Top

Immunization efforts in Georgia

Bibb County Department of Family and Children Services' Community Immunization Initiative

News from the CDC and the Group Health Association of America

Macon, Ga.?The Macon Telegraph has provided extensive coverage to some of the recent immunization activities of the Bibb County Department of Family and Children Services' Community Immunization Initiative. The paper gave front-page coverage to a neighborhood dedication ceremony for a van that will be used as a mobile immunization clinic. The dedication was attended by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. In addition, the paper has provided extensive coverage to other immunization activities as part of its ongoing series, "Our Children at Risk," and has sponsored poster contests, t-shirts, and buttons.

For further information, contact Bibb County Department of Family and Children Services, 456 Oglethorpe St., Macon, GA 31298.

Atlanta, Ga.?The CDC reported that Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna E. Shalala and the Group Health Association of America (GHAA) recently recognized 12 health plans for their successes in increasing the number of fully-immunized two-year olds. Top honors went to three health plans: Health Partners of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mercy Health Plan of Philadelphia, Pa.; and Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound of Seattle. Awards were selected by a panel of judges representing the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the Children's Defense Fund, the National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations (COSSMHO), and CDC.

Back to Top


Immunization efforts in Indiana

Fort Wayne's Super Shot Saturday immunization campaign

Super Shot Saturday wins Indiana Immunization Innovator Award

Fort Wayne, Ind.?Creative and aggressive use of the media is a key aspect of Fort Wayne's Super Shot Saturday immunization campaign. A saturation public service announcement (PSA) campaign promoted three Super Shot Saturdays at which free immunizations were offered to children, especially minority children and children under age two.

Super Shot Saturday put up $4,000 for the PSA, which was matched by $12,000 from a local company producing the spot. The PSA was designed to be adapted by other groups, according to Jane Wuthrich, Super Shot Saturday director. The PSA aired on all three network affiliates, cable stations, the local independent station, and the local PBS affiliate. Just on cable, the PSA aired 250 times in 10 days, Wuthrich said. In addition, the initiative ran radio spots, and local TV stations also produced PSAs of their own.

The project also placed posters on bus huts, painted a bus with immunization messages, and had local immunization spokespeople on radio and TV talk shows. A bimonthly newsletter was sent to community leaders, doctors, the media, and volunteers. And local hospitals set aside some of their marketing budgets to produce and distribute immunization materials; they also loaned marketing personnel to help promote Super Shot Saturday events. Wuthrich credits much of the initiative's success to the outstanding assistance provided by the project's marketing committee.

For further information, contact Super Shot Saturday, 614 West Berry Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

Fort Wayne, Ind.?Super Shot Saturday has won the Indiana Immunization Innovator Award for 1996, reports Super Shot Saturday Director Jan Wuthrich. Volunteers traveled to South Bend, Indiana, on April 23 to receive the award from state officials. Indiana's health department in coordination with the governor's office chose Super Shot Saturday as the award recipient. Congratulations to Jane and her staff!

For further information, contact Super Shot Saturday, 614 West Berry Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

Back to Top


Immunization efforts in Kansas


Wichita, Kan.? The Kiwanis Immunization Initiative conducted five focus groups in suburban and inner-city Wichita to find out what parents think about barriers to immunization. The results were used to design a telephone survey. One surprising result: the percentage of children who have been behind in their immunizations at some point increases as the income of the family increases, although all children representing all groups were behind in their shots.

Focus group suggestions to improve accessibility included folding immunization services into well-child programs; the idea is to provide affordable "one-stop" shopping for all preventive pediatric care.

For further information, contact Kiwanis Immunization Initiative Coordinator, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.

Back to Top


Immunization efforts in Minnesota

Duluth, Minn.?Although they have garnered success with nurses, office managers, and educators, the St. Louis County Health Department has run into roadblocks when it has attempted to educate local physicians about barriers to immunization. The group offered nine provider education sessions for nurses; 101 nurses attended. Five sessions were offered to physicians?but only six attended. The Duluth coalition has also attempted to reach out to day-care providers. For example, the 360 in-home day-care providers in South St. Louis County each received an immunization schedule, a set of immunization facts, and a phone number to call for questions. Three providers did call with questions.

For further information, contact St. Louis County Health Department, 222 E. Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802.

Back to Top

Immunization efforts in North Carolina

Charlotte, N.C.?With a wide range of provider education activities, the Mecklenburg Immunization Task Force is enlisting the support of local providers to boost immunization rates in the area. Strategies include engaging respected providers, such as Dr. Henry Smith of the Charlotte Pediatric Clinic, to talk about immunizations with pediatricians affiliated with local hospitals. More than 60 pediatricians attended one recent talk.

To reach other medical personnel, such as licensed practical nurses who administer vaccines, the group conducted a mini-telephone survey and asked the nurses' advice on how best to connect with this particular group. The task force took the nurses' advice to heart: Come to us. Keep it brief. Provide information, handouts, and a referral number. The group then launched a series of "Lunch and Learn" sessions with medical office personnel that included a video presentation and packets of information. The task force is also encouraging local pediatricians to conduct an audit of their charts to see what percentage contain up-to-date immunization information.

For further information, contact United Way of Central Carolinas, The Mecklenburg Immunization Task Force, 301 South Brevard, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Back to Top

Immunization efforts in North Dakota

Grand Forks, N.D.?As part of its effort to strike down barriers to immunization and eliminate missed opportunities, the Grand Forks Public Health Department pre-tested and post-tested vaccine providers on their knowledge of true contraindications to vaccination. The testing was conducted as part of a course called "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases."

The course was co-sponsored with the University of North Dakota Nursing Center and the North Dakota State Health Department. Pre-testing of p articipants revealed an 84 percent correct response rate to questions about true contraindications to vaccination. After the course, this rate improved to a 90 percent correct response rate.

For further information, contact Grand Forks Public Health Department, 122 South 5th Street, Suite 210, Grand Forks, ND 58201.

Back to Top


Immunization efforts in Pennsylvania

Bellefonte, Pa.-- Family Health Services' Immunization Initiative

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Bellefonte, Pa.?Penetrating cultural barriers to reach the Amish community is a unique challenge for the Family Health Services' Immunization Initiative, according to project coordinator Elise Gurgevich. While some Amish sects are willing to come to clinics and doctors' offices in nearby towns, other groups, such as the Nebraska Amish, prefer not to mingle with non-Amish communities. Employees of the area health department, which is working with the initiative to forge contacts with area Amish, have been able to make several contacts within the Amish community through a common interest in quilting. Gurgevich says she hopes to forge closer ties with the Nebraska Amish by persuading their religious leaders of the need to immunize the community's children.

For further information, contact Immunization Initiative Coordinator, 214 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte, PA 16823.

Philadelphia, Pa.?St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia held a joint press conference last August to promote the immunization initiative. Two local TV stations and the Philadelphia Daily News covered the event. To boost coverage, the hospitals put information from the press conference in neighborhood newspapers. In addition, the hospitals printed 4,000 posters to distribute around the city. The posters are in Spanish, English, and a number of Asian languages.

St. Christopher's also relied on its partnership with the ABC-TV "Children First" campaign to get its immunization message out to the community. Together with local ABC affiliate WTVI-TV, St. Christopher's developed immunization brochures and a PSA that announced a hotline with shot information. The hotline drew fewer callers than anticipated, so this year the hospital is working with other community groups to develop hotline messages in three languages.

Finally, St. Christopher's agreed to set aside a portion of its advertising dollars for the immunization campaign and has placed immunization messages on directional signs to the hospital.

For further information, contact St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Erie Ave. at Front St., Philadelphia, PA 19134-1095.

Philadelphia, Pa.?Among its many provider education efforts, St. Christopher's Hospital has targeted medical students and residents?a population found to be seriously lacking in immunization awareness and education. By working with chief medical residents, St. Christopher's was able to expand the time devoted to teaching residents immunization issues. St. Christopher's has also been able to exert some leverage with the physician practices and local offices the hospital has recently acquired.

As part of the new system's requirement that doctors participate in monthly or quarterly meetings, the St. Christopher's immunization effort has been able to expand the amount of immunization information conveyed during these meetings. For further information, contact St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Erie Avenue at Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134.

Back to Top


Immunization efforts in South Carolina

Columbia, S.C.?Sponsored by the Richland-Lexington Immunization Coalition, interviews with local parents have begun to pinpoint barriers to immunization. But through the cooperation of two coalition members, one barrier already has been removed. Parents who tried to get their children vaccinated through the "Vaccine Assurance For All Children" program had been required to prove that their insurance would not cover immunization. Parents then faced many delays and missed opportunities to get their children vaccinated. A local pediatrician was able to persuade a public health official to remove this requirement. Thanks to the efforts of the two coalition members, any parent who would like to obtain free vaccines from any provider enrolled in the VAFAC program can do so right away.

For further information, contact Richland-Lexington Immunization Coalition, The Alliance for South Carolina's Children, 1330 Lady Street, 2nd Floor, Columbia, SC 29211.

Back to Top


Immunization efforts in Washington, DC

Washington, D.C.?With funding from the AT&T Foundation, Howard University and ImmuneWatch, Inc. have launched a pilot project at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., that enables health care professionals and administrators to track immunizations as easily as using a touchtone phone.

The system includes a centralized database that registers infants at birth, tracks children by age, and notifies a child's parent or guardian when a child is scheduled to receive a shot. The system can also track vaccine distribution, usage, and inventory and compile the data to help administrators run more efficient and effective programs.

Here's how the system works: When a health care provider calls ImmuneWatch, the AT&T CONVERSANT? Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System automatically answers the call and offers the caller a menu of options using automated voice prompts. Health care professionals respond to those prompts by using the buttons on their touchtone telephones to retrieve or enter information in the system's database. The system continues to interact with the caller until the transactions are complete.

When authorized health care providers enter information into the system, immunization records are automatically updated. This feature makes it easier to monitor records of children whose parents move frequently. For example, a child might get treatment at a health clinic on one day, and be treated at a hospital emergency room on another. Health care professionals at both facilities could dial into the system for the most current information on the child's immunizations and update the child's records at the same time.

The system virtually eliminates paperwork and provides computer access to the 70 percent of private practitioners who don't have a computer or personnel with computer skills.

During the Howard pilot project, the ImmuneWatch system will be evaluated to gauge its effectiveness. From the data developed during the initial phase of the pilot, a prototype for a regionalized birth registry and immunization tracking system may be designed that links the eight jurisdictions in metropolitan Washington into a single medical service area.

For further information, contact AT&T Foundation, 295 North Maple Avenue, Room 2221F2, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

Washington, D.C.?The National Medical Association (NMA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) entered into a five-year agreement to ensure that hard to reach 19 to 35-month old children are fully protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. The NMA will launch its 1996 public education and advocacy immunization program in Detroit, Los Angeles, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

For further information, contact National Immunization Outreach Effort, National Medical Association, 1012 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Back to Top


add new comment | email this page | printer friendly version