KEYWORDS:
Outreach to Diverse Communities and Barriers to Vaccination and Under vaccinated Populations.

BACKGROUND:
As a member of a QIO 5-year study on an African-American Immunization Project I developed relationships with participants in the Los Angeles area;
When CMS flu funds became available in 2001 I began discussions with the Healthy Aging Coordinator at the Southeast Health Center located in Compton, California to fund a grant to raise the utilization rates through education and training.

OBJECTIVE:
To provide accurate, up-to-date information on immunizations to African-American seniors and to actively discuss prevalent myths and supply correct information. Finally, to raise utilization rates in the Compton area.

METHOD:
* Hold meetings with community members to discuss proposed project and discuss details, preferences before proceeding
*Develop a training manual for the seniors and a PowerPoint presentation and began training seniors.
*Train seniors to counsel seniors on in their churches and senior centers on the importance of flu and pneumoccocal immunizations.
*Have the seniors listen to the training session and then have them present the exact presentation to their fellow classmates and provide constructive criticism.
*Provide completion certificates, stipends and giveaways upon course completion.


RESULT:
We were able to track immunization rates through the Southeast Health Center, which is funded through the County Health Department. Utilization rates in the African-American population served by the clinic rose by 106%. Several seniors who had been trained by the previous class of seniors asked to join the program and in 2002 the program was presented to a new group of senior trainers.

CONCLUSION:
1. Several myths prevail in the African-American community with regard to immunizations.
2. Seniors prefer to receive information from their peers who are from the same community.
3. Seniors are very willing to volunteer and work with their communities on issues of importance.
4. You can raise utilization rates in a community through innovative approaches

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Techniques for working with Seniors in diverse communities
2. Thinking outside the Box
3. Setting up a community project