BACKGROUND:
Ohio’s IMPACT Statewide Immunization Information System (SIIS) was introduced in February of 2001. In order to communicate the system’s arrival and the benefits of the comprehensive immunization registry to both the public and private providers throughout the State, the Ohio Department of Health initiated a “grass roots” marketing campaign and identified the immunization coalitions as key to the project’s success.

OBJECTIVE:
Demonstrate how the collaboration of Ohio’s immunization coalitions is effective in the dissemination of marketing information and the recruitment of providers of vaccine to the registry statewide and not limited to their immediate communities.

METHOD:
Ohio’s immunization coalitions rely on their relationships, integrity and standing within their communities to both refine and expand registry marketing messages beyond county borders. Through the development of the Statewide Ohio Immunization Coalition (OIC) they established a forum to discuss the regional differences of a very diverse state. It is through the diversity of their memberships and the credibility of their individual programs that they have identified alternative funding sources, as well as influenced political opinions, and affected sweeping changes throughout their regions.

RESULT:
In Ohio, the immunization coalitions have provided a collective voice that has established a consensus. This has propelled registry marketing efforts throughout the State and has assisted in the direct contact of more than 65% of the State’s 3,000 plus health care providers.

CONCLUSION:
By recognizing their common goals and unifying efforts through the OIC, Project L.O.V.E. (Central Ohio), C.H.I.C. (Northeast Ohio), and The Greater Cincinnati Immunization Coalition (Southwest Ohio) have successfully promoted the State’s web-enabled immunization registry throughout Ohio’s 88 counties.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Illustrate regional coalition efforts and collaborations to market an immunization registry
2. Illustrate funding strategies
3. Illustrate Statewide coalition efforts and collaborations to market an immunization registry