BACKGROUND:
The Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative (READII) is a two-demonstration project being conducted in five sites (Chicago; Milwaukee; Mississippi; Rochester, NY; and San Antonio). These sites developed partnerships with public health professionals, medical providers, community-based organizations, large health plans, QIOs, minority health professional organizations, faith-based organizations, and private businesses. Together, these partnerships supported efforts and interventions to raise immunization rates among their target populations.

OBJECTIVE:
Reduce racial and ethnic disparities in adult immunization rates.
Understand better the aspects of successful community interventions that increase adult immunization rates.

METHOD:
CDC in partnership with Center for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), collaborated in providing financial and written resources to each of the five demonstration sites. CDC contracted AED to provide technical assistance to the demonstration sites.

RESULT:
Each of the sites established effective partnerships to assist in meeting the project goals and carrying out the Community Action Plan. The Community Action Plans focusing on evidence-based interventions and innovative approaches to increasing vaccination levels. Depending on the site, certain partners provided critical resources (i.e., direct access to the target population, Spanish-language expertise, etc.) that increased the reach and success of the site's intervention.

CONCLUSION:
Well defined plan for community and partner engagement can leverage limited resources as well as increase the likelihood of sustaining coalition activities. At the conclusion of the demonstration project, CDC and AED plan to share lessons learned from the initiative and as additional resources become available, CDC will replicate the effective interventions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
>>define cultural competency,
>>identify at least five culturally appropriate interventions to raise influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates among African American and Hispanic seniors 65 years of age and older.
>>discuss “lessons learned”, challenges and barriers, and future plans to sustain these culturally appropriate and effective interventions after the READII demonstration project has concluded in early 2005.