KEYWORDS:
Adult immunizations, health education, program operations (VFC), vaccine recommendations

BACKGROUND:
Colorado's Immunization Technical Assisstance Team (ITAT) was formed to imporve communication and coordination between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, local health departments, and organizations involved in immunizations. Education has been a key focus of ITAT. During 2001, two education initiatives were developed by ITAT and the Colorado Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition (CIPAC) to target health care providers and their staff who give immunizations. The goal of these projects was to improve knowledge of immunization issues.

OBJECTIVE(S):
Program One: Children's Immunizations
Offer training to staff who give children's immunizations.
Review VFC rules including immunization and documentation procedures.
Ensure proper administration techniques and spacing of vaccines.
Review proper storage and handling of vaccines to ensure vaccine efficacy.
Program Two: Adult Immunizations
To describe the epidemiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis of influenza and pneumonia.
Discuss the current CDC recommendations for influenza nd pheumococcal vaccination
Compare and contrast the symptoms of influenza versus other viral infections

METHOD(S):
Free training sessions were offered to providers and staff.
Program One: Four lunch sessions for office staff including RN, LPN, and MA's. In addition, a packet containing extensive immunization resources for both children and adults was given to each attendee.
Program Two: The program was offered to pharmacists, nurse practitioner organizations, and infection control practitioners. The program and a meal were brought to regular monthly meetings of these groups.

RESULT(S):
Children's immunization presentation provided to 140 office staff personnel. Adult presentation provided to 177 healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Sessions were well attended, with positive feedback, demonstrating that healthcare providers need access to programs providing immunization recommendations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Attendees will be able to:
Understand the components of an immunization education program.
Describe how to target physicians and office staff with immunization education.