Adolescents' Immunization Project

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of this presentation participants will be able to:
• Understand that newly recruited providers require education in several aspects of immunization practice, including but not limited to: 1) vaccine safety and efficacy, vaccine storage, vaccine reporting requirements, and the Vaccines For Children Program.
Recognize that offering choice to select among recommended vaccines for adolescents expand the types of providers who may be recruited to vaccinate the target adolescent population.

Background:
Newly recommended vaccines present an opportunity to increase public awareness of the importance of immunization and vaccine preventable diseases among adolescents and their families as well as expand immunization practice to additional groups of providers.

Setting:
The District of Columbia: provider offices, public and charter middle and secondary schools, school-affiliated parent organizations, juvenile corrections facilities, and other settings where adolescents may congregate.

Population:
The target population includes providers who do not typically engage in immunization practice including gynecologists and obstetricians and internists.

Project Description:
The District of Columbia, Vaccines For Children Program has funded an initiative entitled The Adolescents' Immunization Project. The Project will support the optimal uptake of recommended vaccine among adolescents residing in the District. Project activities include:
1. Development of an educational campaign to increase awareness of the importance of vaccination and vaccine preventable diseases among adolescents and their families.
2. Non-VFC providers were identified, educated and encouraged to enroll in the VFC Program.

Results/Lessons Learned:
The initiative is an ongoing project. Project results anticipate increased provider enrollment, increased uptake of recommended vaccines, and increased vaccine and vaccine preventable diseases awareness among youths and their families in the District of Columbia.