Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
1. Identify statewide immunization partners
2. Create a Pilot Program
3. Initiate a Vaccinate Before You Graduate program
4. Address policy and program issues


Background:
Indiana passed a Hepatitis B law in 2004 effective from 2005-2008 impacting 9th and 12th graders. No school records audit or reporting was required. No suspension of students to meet the requirement was allowed. It did offer an opportunity to promote the vaccine to adolescents who because of their age were not immunized with the passage of a previous law in 1999. An Adolescent Subcommittee was formed to address how the law would be implemented throughout the state. Members included the Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Immunization Coalition, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana School Nurse Association, The Meningitis Foundation, Indiana Kiwanis, Managed Health Centers, Sanofi Pasteur and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. Our mission was to develop a statewide initiative that increased adolescent immunization coverage through education, collaboration and vaccination. Our goal was to develop a model program that could easily be shared and implemented. A year of researching and developing a program preceded launching a statewide Vaccinate Before You Graduate Indiana pilot program. Although each pilot program was unique and achieved success; issues of vaccine availability, limited resources and school's utilizing a seperate immunization databases created different outcomes. These outcomes then broadened the committee's goals to include statewide policy and program changes.

Setting:
School based clinics

Population:
Communities wanting to increase their adolescent immunization rates

Project Description:
The recent immunization requirements for adolescents' are engaging public health in a new arena. We will share our pilot programs successes but also how to address policy and program changes statewide


Results/Lessons Learned:
Utilizing both policy and program can have a tremendous impact on initiatives.