National Initiatives Affecting Your Community

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to identify at least three national initiatives that directly affect their local community and their ability to immunize the public.

Background:
This presentation seeks to enlighten participants about several national level initiatives aimed at improving vaccine delivery systems, alleviating physicians' barriers to immunization, enhancing the public's trust in vaccines and developing state and national policies aimed at improving vaccination rates among all populations. Presenters will provide an overview of the goals, objectives and current status of the National Immunization Congress, the 317 Coalition, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, People for Immunization, the National Influenza Vaccine Summit, and both the Adult and Childhood Vaccine Policy Groups.

Setting:
National coalitions including grassroots partners

Population:
General Public

Project Description:
Although the U.S. is currently experiencing the highest childhood immunization levels in recorded history, the current system faces many challenges that must be overcome in order to maintain and improve on our successes. Adolescent and adult immunization levels have much room for improvement.
National organizations partner on a number of initiatives throughout the year aimed at making continued improvements to the U.S. vaccine delivery system. These organizations seek to make improvements that will affect local communities, which lie at the core of our delivery system. Updates on the actions taken in 2007 will be provided and participants will be asked to provide input regarding the challenges faced in their communities.

Results/Lessons Learned:
Forging strong partnerships is the key to achieving our goals. Continuously engaging local level partners is critical to ensure that national organizations are serving the needs of the local community.