KEYWORDS:
pneumococcal pneumonia
task force
Hawaii
vaccination rates
collaboration

BACKGROUND:
1999 Hawaii State BRFSS data estimates pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination rates among persons 65 years and over to be 55.8%. In response, a Flu & Pneumonia Task Force was convened. It was comprised of private and public organizations including state and federal agencies, health care organizations, advocacy groups, pharmaceutical companies, the state’s quality care foundation for Medicare, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

OBJECTIVE(S):
In an effort to increase pneumococcal vaccination rates in Hawaii, the Task Force identified two objectives: education of providers and education of high risk groups for pneumococcal pneumonia diseases.

METHOD(S):
A multi-prong education campaign was designed and implemented utilizing broadcast and print media strategies. Task Force partners contributed monies, materials and/or services on an activity-by-activity basis, allowing organizations to participate based on interest and contribution capabilities.

RESULT(S):
The Task Force was able to disseminate pneumococcal vaccine information to approximately 400,000 non-English speaking listeners through radio ads, 200,000 riders through bus poster advertisements, 175,000 consumers through informational bag stuffers, 136,000 viewers through television ads, 130,000 Medicare beneficiaries through brochure distribution, 20,000 seniors through newspaper article, and 2,400 physicians through correspondence.
Comparison data from the 2001 BRFSS will be presented along with a summary of the Task Force interim evaluation in June 2002.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Prior to the Task Force’s inception, pneumonia prevention efforts were fragmented and limited in scope. Through the Task Force, a unified message was created and a large-scale education campaign was executed. It is the recommendation of the Task Force that other communities research the efficacy of a similar coalition in their own population.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To understand the benefits of independent organizations working collaboratively to improve pneumococcal vaccination rates; and to name strategies used to affect a statewide education campaign despite unequal contributions from representative organizations.