KEYWORDS:
Partnership, Binational Coalition, Communication, Border Region.

BACKGROUND:
On September of 2001 members of Tijuana’s Health Institutions approached the San Diego County Immunization Program with the interest of developing a Binational Immunization Committee to address the immunization issues affecting the people residing along the Tijuana-San Diego region. After initial dialogue, it was agreed that because of the dynamics of the border area, the formation of a binational coalition would facilitate the identification and subsequent effort to resolve common as well as unique binational immunization issues.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To describe the partnership model being developed to improve communication and cooperation among immunization programs from both sides of the border.

METHOD(S):
The first Binational Immunization Committee meeting was officially inaugurated at the offices of the Mexican Red Cross in Tijuana, Mexico. Participants involved key members from various public health organizations in Tijuana and from San Diego’s County Health and Human Services Agency. This forum initiated the formation of a binational partnership whose members developed a specific Binational Immunization action plan through the identification of immunization objectives, challenges and barriers.

RESULT(S):
Development of a binational immunization registry; Creation of a California Immunization Record guide for schools in Tijuana; Development and dissemination of culturally/linguistically appropriate materials; development of a pamphlet for providers and families on the reasons for the use of the TB vaccine in Mexico and the PPD in San Diego County, among others.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
The identification of the challenges facing the Tijuana-San Diego border region is essential to the success of the immunization efforts undertaken on both sides of the border.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the unique challenges faced by the immunization programs in the San Diego-Tijuana border area. Describe ways to guide new projects and cooperation.