Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to identify strategies to increase immunization rates among low-income minority children.

Background:
Immunization rates in the U.S. have risen dramatically in recent years. However, rates for African American and Hispanic children have consistently lagged behind and fluctuate often. Although the 2005 National Immunization Survey indicated that there are no longer differerences in the 4:3:1:3:3:1 rates between the ethnicities, disparities for certain vaccines still exist. Continued vigilance is essential to ensure the health of minority children.

Setting:
Four U.S. cities with low immunization rates for minority children.

Population:
We are looking to educate low-income minority families and VFC providers in four U.S. cities. In some cities we are also targeting daycare providers, prenatal class participants, and/or OB-GYNs.

Project Description:
ECBT is collaborating with immunization stakeholders on "Immunize On Time, Every Time!,” an immunization disparities initiative. This program is being conducted within four U.S. cities --Cleveland, Houston, Newark and Las Vegas. The initiative consists of a two-pronged approach -- public education and provider education. The goal of the public education element is to provide educational materials and immunization messaging to low-income minority families. The goals of the provider education element are to educate providers about the low immunization rates and disparities in their cities; provide evidence-based strategies to raise rates; and encourage private provider participation in the local registry.

Results/Lessons Learned:
Results are ongoing. In Cleveland, 1,050 attended our program kickoff event and there were 8.9 million(M) media impressions; in Houston, 1,800 event attendees; in Newark, 1,330 event attendees-- 2.4M media impressions; and in Las Vegas, over 2,000 event attendees -- 2M media impressions. We learned that collaborating with local communities is key, one size never fits all, and low rates are caused by a variety of programmatic and social issues.