Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of this presentation participants will be able to identify a program to implement immunizations for pregnant women.

Background:
Vaccinations are not only safe in pregnancy but are recommended. However, vaccinating pregnant women still remains unsupported among many health care professionals who care for these individuals. The problem remained how to implement a successful immunization program in one local county health department.

Setting:
Suffolk County Department of Health Services runs prenatal clinics in all eight of its primary health centers and three satellites. Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Obstetricians staff the prenatal clinics. The health centers are located in various neighborhoods in this suburban county.

Population:
The largest ethnic group is Latina, followed by African American, Caucasian, Asian, and Nativie American. All are enrolled in the Medicaid prenatal assistance program. A large number of the Latinas are immigrants.

Project Description:
A staff education program was developed and the nursing staff subsequently developed a teaching program for the women attending the prenatal clinics. The immunization status of the women was assessed. Each woman was then offered the immunizations and vaccinated accordingly.

Results/Lessons Learned:
A successful immunization program was implemented providing pregnant women with immunizations necessary to protect their own health as well as the health of their babies.