Coalitions in Action

	Allegheny County Immunization Coalition
	What do ice cream, art shows, and immunizations have in common? The students at William Penn Elementary in the Penn Hills School District know. Their school enjoyed an ice cream social to celebrate the winner of a poster contest sponsored by the Allegheny County Immunization Coalition. The event topped several months of activities that used art to teach pre-teens about vaccines.
	Alliance for Immunization in Michigan Toolkit
	The Alliance for Immunization in Michigan (AIM) is a statewide coalition that was formed in 1994 to address low vaccination rates. The initial focus of AIM was to emphasize provider education in an effort to reduce missed opportunities to immunize. The Coalition’s concerted efforts were integrated into a Provider Toolkit with resources for immunization practices, vaccine management, and parental education. For the past 13 years, AIM has continued to make available the Toolkit free of charge to health professionals administering immunizations. The AIM kit has been recognized nationally for numerous awards and has been featured during presentations at both the National Immunization and Coalition Conferences.
	Assessing Immunization Rates Of Licensed In-Home Childcare In Rhode Island
	To identify children in in-home childcare settings that were not age appropriately immunized, the Rhode Island Department of Health developed a survey form to assess immunization rates of children in these settings. So far, this two year project has revealed that licensed in-home childcare providers play an important role in immunizing RI’s children.
	Baby Track Program
	Baby Track is a maternity services program that uses hospital volunteers to educate and remind new parents about the need to immunize their babies on time. Results from a pilot test conducted in 1981 showed that babies whose mothers were enrolled in Baby Track were more likely to be up-to-date with their immunizations than other children. In fact, percentages were up to 200% higher for Baby Track infants.
	Boomer Biker Immunization Ride “Adult Immunizations: Your Highway to Health”
	The California Adult Immunization Coalition organized a motorcycle ride to raise awareness of adult immunizations among baby boomers in the San Diego area. Following the ride, the health department vaccinated riders at a local Harley Davidson dealer. The coalition also created a Video News Release about the event, which was picked up by 20 stations across the state.
	Boulder County Immunization Coalition
	The Boulder County Immunization Coalition wants medical providers to use their state's electronic immunization registry-- and they are willing to help. According to the Coalition's biannual survey, medical practices using CIIS (the Colorado Immunization Information System) have higher infant immunization rates than practices that do not use CIIS. These providers likely have more complete records, making it easier to track patients, avoid missed opportunities, and send reminder notices. The Coalition believes that CIIS is an important tool to protect children from vaccine preventable diseases.
	Care-A-Van
	Since 1993, the Utah Every Child by Two Immunization Coalition has worked with its partners to conduct over 824 mobile immunization clinics. This “Care-A-Van” project was designed to help increase access to immunization services and target areas with low immunization levels or limited immunization services. Between February and October 2007, close to 1400 individuals where immunized and over 2800 doses of vaccine were administered.
	Coalition Responds to Emergency Situation with Volunteer Flu Clinics
	Residents of San Diego County confronted more than just the flu last year. Wildfires began on October 21, 2007, forcing over 265,000 residents to leave their homes. The Community Health Improvement Partners’Immunize San Diego Coalition predicted that poor air quality from the fires, close quarters in emergency shelters, and the start of flu season would place vulnerable groups at risk for influenza. Drawing on strong volunteer support and committed corporate partners, the Coalition acted quickly to mobilize seven emergency flu clinics for displaced residents.
	Community Immunization Education Guide Tool Kit
	The Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition created a Community Immunization Education Tool Kit in an effort to standardize immunization messages being conveyed by different organizations in Chicago. The Coalition has trained almost 200 people on how to use the Tool Kit as part of their immunization outreach efforts. Other Coalitions can download the Tool Kit and adapt it for their communities.
	Community Response to the 2004-2005 Vaccine Crisis
	Springfield, Missouri experienced a major shortage of influenza vaccine during the 2004-2005 influenza vaccine crisis. There were disparities between who received their vaccine and who did not, and there were concerns about whether those at high-risk for influenza-related complications received immunizations. The initiative, “A Community Response to the 2004-2005 Vaccine Crisis,” was established by the Greene County Medical Society (GCMS) in response to this emergency shortage of influenza vaccine.
	DC Schools Immunization Appreciation Luncheon
	The Immunization Coalition of Washington, DC (ICDC) recognizes the key role that school nurses and other school health staff play in increasing immunization rates among children in the District. Since 2003, the Coalition has hosted an Appreciation Luncheon to recognize nurses and other health staff working in schools that have high vaccine coverage rates. The number of individuals honored at the luncheon has increased each year, with nearly 200 in attendance at the 2007 event. The Appreciation Luncheon has also raised awareness about immunization among DC school administrators, resulting in increased enforcement of vaccine mandates and strengthened support for the work of school nurses and other school health staff.
	Dine and Dash
	Dine 'N Dash, a series of outreach activities at local restaurants designed to reach busy physicians far surpassed the expectations of the Milwaukee READII project coordinators. Fifty physicians took part in one of the four events; of those, 23-nearly half-requested an in-office presentation on READII for their nursing staff and other key personnel.
	Excellence in Immunization Practices for Medical Assistants
	Since 2003, the Stanislaus County Immunization Coalition has provided hands-on training on childhood immunization practices for medical assistants. This training is held annually in the month of May, which is California’s Toddler Immunization Month, and is supported by a broad range of partners. The training is made fun and appealing for medical assistants through raffle prizes, games, certificates of completion, and a visit from Izzy the Immunization Bear.
	FluGram™
	The FluGram™ Vaccination Program offers patients the opportunity to reserve a flu vaccination by purchasing a FluGram™ gift card at Buford Road Pharmacy.
	Foster Care Kids Need Shots Too!
	Foster care children may not have access to healthcare and may be behind in their shots. In 2005, the San Diego Immunization Branch (SDIB) partnered with La Cuna, Inc. to educate foster parents about immunizations. The trainings, which are offered in both English and Spanish, target foster parents and potential foster parents of Latino children from 0-5 years old.
	Give it a Shot in Charleston County Schools
	The Tri-County Immunization Coalition localized materials from the ”Give it a Shot!” toolkit developed by the American School Health Association to promote vaccination for adolescents in rural Charleston County. Between April and July 2007, the Coalition worked with school nurses to distribute pledge cards to parents of fifth graders, health ministry coordinators from local churches to reach African Americans, and existing organizations working with Spanish-speaking populations.
	Happy Birthday Party/Immunization Celebration
	To combat low immunization rates in Savannah, Georgia, and encourage physicians to join a newly established immunization registry, the Everybody Counts Immunization Coalition (EBC) held its first Happy Birthday Party for 2-year-old children in 1995.
	Hitting a Home Run for Immunization
	The San Francisco Immunization Coalition has established an ongoing partnership with the San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball Team. Together they have implemented three NIIW campaigns targeting Hispanic and African-American parents in San Francisco. The campaigns have aimed to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in immunization through PSAs, bus ads and special events all featuring Giants players.
	I Did It By TWO!
	Since 1996, the Vaccinate Alaska Coalition (VAC) has been working with the Iditarod Trail Committee to promote childhood immunization awareness through a campaign entitled "I Did It By TWO!" (IDIB2). The campaign seeks to heighten public awareness of the critical need for timely immunization of children from birth to age two as well as to assist providers in achieving parental compliance with the recommended childhood immunization schedule. IDIB2 does this by incorporating the dog mushing theme (based on the historical “Race to Vaccinate”) into all promotional and educational materials and garnering support from Iditarod planners, mushers, and fans in disseminating immunization messages.
	Immunization Cakewalk
	For the past 13 years, the Oklahoma County Immunization Coalition has organized Cakewalks to celebrate National Infant Immunization Week. During the Cakewalks low-income children can receive free immunizations, participate in activities such as face painting and arts and crafts, and go home with a gift bag filled with goodies. Shots are provided by the Vaccines for Children Program, and additional supplies are donated by a local hospital and businesses. Numerous community groups also participate in the event as volunteers. The event has reached up to 800 children in past years.
	Impact SIIS
	Impact SIIS (Statewide Immunization Information System) is Ohio’s registry. It is used to assist provider offices in raising their office immunization rates.
	Mass Tetanus Clinics - Get the Dirt on Tetanus
	In order to increase awareness and uptake of tetanus vaccination in adults, particularly among gardeners, construction workers and other adults in need of a Td vaccination or a Tdap booster, the Regional Institute of Health and Environmental Leadership, the Public Health Nurse Association of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment teamed up to promote partnerships between local public health agencies and garden centers or hardware stores. The following Promising Practice outlines the success of hosting 4 vaccination clinics in a non-traditional setting.
	Maximizing Office Based Immunization (MOBI)
	The Ohio AAP, collaborating with the Ohio Department of Health Immunization Program and a network of 100 local public immunization nurses, operates the Maximizing Office Based Immunization (MOBI) provider education program. This program educates pediatrician and family physician offices on strategies to increase on-time immunization of infants and children in their practices.
	McDonald’s “Immunize for Healthy Lives” Campaign
	For the past three years, the Immunize Kids! Dallas Area Partnership has partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities, local McDonald's restaurants and other local health partners to implement the "Immunize for Healthy Lives" program. Immunization information is distributed on McDonald's tray liners, at community events and through television and radio PSAs. More than 700,000 tray liners were distributed in 260 McDonald's restaurants during the 2006 campaign.
	Mississippi READII “Take Care of Yourself” Jingle
	Developing an outreach tool that is both culturally appropriate and creative is possible. Just ask staff at the Mississippi Department of Health Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative (MDH READII). They developed a jingle using music, (which is a significant component of Delta culture) to encourage African American older adults living in the Mississippi Delta area to get an influenza vaccine.
	Mobilizing Seniors as Flu Shot Advocates: West Virginia’s Silver Haired Legislature Experience
	To increase immunization rates among seniors living in a targeted area consisting of 20 rural counties, the West Virginia Immunization Network recruits members of West Virginia’s Silver Haired Legislature (SHL) to serve as influenza immunization advocates.
	Name the Bee Contest
	To celebrate the 2007 National Infant Immunization Week, the Bucks County Immunization Coalition organized a contest to name its new immunization mascot – a bee. The coalition invited each public and private elementary school in the county to submit one entry on behalf of all of its students. The coalition received 29 entries and picked the winning name – “Bee Diddy” - during one of its meetings. Bee Diddy made his official debut at the county commissioners’ meeting in April and later visited the winning school for a “pretzel party.”
	New Mexico Immunization Coalition Public Education Campaign
	New Mexico was recently awarded a National Immunization Survey (NIS) Award for being one of the states with the most improved estimated vaccination coverage for the 4:3:1:3:3 series between 2001 and 2004. A Public Education Campaign was one of the many multi-faceted approaches the New Mexico Immunization Coalition (NMIC) implemented to raise immunization rates in the state.
	NIIW Health Fair
	The Shelby County Community Immunization Coalition worked with the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department to hold their first National Infant Immunization Week Health Fair in April 2008. Close to 200 children and parents participated in the event and received free immunizations as well as other preventative health services while enjoying refreshments, face painting, and story-telling.
	Polka-Dot Lapel Ribbon Infant Immunization Awareness Campaign
	The Tri-County Immunization Coalition celebrates National Infant Immunization Week every April by conducting a “Polka-Dot Ribbon” Campaign encouraging parents and caregivers of young children to adhere to the recommended immunization schedule for infants.
	Protect and Immunize Nevada’s Kids (PINK) Project
	PINK is a direct educational campaign that provides information to every parent of a newborn in Nevada. The campaign distributes portfolios in English and Spanish to new parents prior to leaving the hospital. The portfolio includes immunization, health, and safety information, and is designed to store baby’s records such as birth certificate and immunization card. Over 30,000 new parents receive the portfolio every year.
	Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative (READII)
	Chicago was one of the demonstration sites to implement the Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative (READII). This initiative led to a partnership between public health, local legislative representatives and community organizations to promote influenza and pneumococcal immunizations among African American and Hispanic/Latino seniors age 65 and older.
	Rochester READII Primary Care Practice Intervention
	When Rochester READII tested the effectiveness of its provider practice intervention by conducting a randomized trial of patients it found that the intervention group was 3 times more likely to get vaccinated against influenza and 6 times more likely to get vaccinated against pneumococcal disease than the control group.
	Roll In, Roll Up, Roll Out
	Roll In, Roll Up, Roll Out is a drive-thru flu clinic in York, Pennsylvania, created to increase the accessibility of flu shots for senior citizens and other adults with ambulation issues.
	Snow Day Movie Mania
	To celebrate National Infant Immunization Week this year, the Doña Ana County Immunization Coalition, along with the New Mexico Department of Health and other community partners, coordinated an event titled, “Snow Day Movie Mania.” The event was held at a local movie theater to provide an opportunity for children and their parents to receive immunizations and educational information at a location outside of a doctor’s office or health clinic.
	SOUP! Fundraiser
	The Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition (CCIC) is celebrating a decade of hard work to increase childhood immunization rates. As a creative way to thank partners and raise funds to continue their efforts, the CCIC is hosting their first SOUP! (Shots Offer Unrivaled Protection) tasting event at the Colorado History Museum.
	Stop Hepatitis Mobile Theatre
	Entertainment education is an effective health promotion strategy that has been used to address various health issues around the world. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has effectively used this strategy to educate youth about the transmission and prevention of viral hepatitis A, B, and C.
	Take Your Best Shot Adolescent Immunization Project
	The West Virginia Immunization Network has developed a state-wide project, Take Your Best Shot, to address low vaccination rates among adolescents aged 11 to 21 years. The project was launched with a kick-off event at the State Capitol in October 2007 and is currently in its pilot phase with partners in seven counties. In addition to interventions designed to educate and build awareness, the five-year project aims to promote the adoption of policies and practices that can sustain the increased rates after funding ends.
	The Vaccinators: A Promising Practice for Reaching Youth
	The Vaccinators is an educational project for youth and by youth that shares the message "Disease Kills, Vaccines Save Lives" and teaches the importance of infectious disease prevention through healthy living, good hygiene and immunizations using performance art (music, dance, and personal stories of faith and survival). Project activities are carried out by a group of 16 young adults - “the Vaccinators”; six of whom are survivors of bacterial meningitis and the rest of whom are related to or have personal contact with someone who has died from meningitis.
	University Partnership Expands Coalition’s Reach
	In 2003, The Immunization Task Force - Metro Omaha (ITF-MO), was faced with a severe decrease in funding. At the same time, the coalition had a need for professional continuing education in response to an expanding immunization schedule. In order to respond to this need, ITF-MO partnered with Creighton University to organize regional immunization conferences. Three annual conferences have been organized since 2004, with Creighton providing continuing education credit to participants. The partnership with Creighton has made it easier to attract participants and private funders. Money leftover from each conference has been used to support the coalition's advocacy and program activities.
	Vaccinate Before You Graduate Indiana
	The Indiana Vaccinate Before You Graduate Program is a public awareness campaign to provide school-based clinics. The program included collaboration with immunization partners to provide Meningococcal, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Measles Mumps Rubella and Varicella vaccine to adolescents throughout the state.
	Vaccinate Your Staff Contest
	To motivate healthcare workers to get vaccinated, the San Diego Immunization Program (SDIP) collaborated with the Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) to develop and implement the 2004 Vaccinate Your Staff Contest. Although the influenza vaccine shortage resulted in a lower than anticipated number of contestants, 78 staff were vaccinated in 11 offices, representing 100% coverage among participating sites. This high coverage rate suggests that incentives or competition may be effective methods for increasing influenza immunization coverage among healthcare workers.
	Vaccinating Underserved Adults through Community Partnerships
	The Oregon Adult Immunization Coalition (OAIC) has developed a model system for reaching underserved adults with flu, pneomoccal and Tdap shots. Using donated vaccine and supplies, the coalition organizes 10-15 free clinics each year in homeless shelters, commercial farms and other locations. GetAFluShot.com, an OAIC member, also organized an award-winning late season flu shot campaign in collaboration with the Oregon Food Bank. These partnerships have succeeded in reaching vulnerable populations with excess vaccine that might have otherwise gone to waste.
	Virginia Department of Health Workshop on Pandemic Influenza
	The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs (VDH EP&R) recently convened a successful workshop on pandemic influenza. This meeting offered more than 150 participants and observers the opportunity to provide comments on the state strategic plan for pandemic influenza. Stakeholders were able to express their concerns about pandemic planning and indicated what services their agencies would be able to provide during a pandemic. This valuable input will be used by VDH to update the State Plan and to continue building partnerships with essential stakeholders.
	Workplace Influenza Campaign
	The Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) has on-going efforts to prevent influenza through employer-supported vaccination clinics in the state of Washington. First launched in 2004, the campaign began by encouraging healthcare workers to organize employee immunization campaigns to protect themselves and their patients. In 2007, IACW decided to expand their campaign to assist a broad range of small to mid-size workplaces in planning workplace flu vaccination days.

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