Local Public Health Response to Vaccine Safety Issues-What Happend in Suffolk County, NY

Background:
Vaccine safety issues are an ever increasing, time consuming issue for local health departments, causing a dramatic increase in requests for information from concerned members of the community. Such concerns have often had a detrimental effect on immunization acceptance by parents and care givers. Local health departments need to be well versed in the literature regarding immunization studies and information so they can communicate in an effective manner that uses language clearly understood by the public.

Setting:
Suffolk County Department of Health Services provides information on immunizations, and vaccine safety, to the community via phone calls, and participation in numerous venues in the community including schools, libraries, community service agencies, and other public forums.

Population:
Suffolk County is a suburban county with a population of 1.4 million people. There is a local, very well organized group who are opposed to mandatory immunizations. This group is very well versed in public communication. A local state assemblyperson has introduced legislation which will allow philosophical exemption to immunization in New York State.

Project Description:
The literature was searched for information related to vaccine communication. Materials from the CDC, Vaccine Information Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Immunization Action Coalition web sites were also reviewed. Answers to commonly asked questions were developed using language that would be clearly understood by the lay public.

Results/Lessons Learned:
The National Immunization Survey Data shows that credible, effective communication by health care providers with the public has a positive impact on the decision to immunize. There is a tremendous need for local public health staff to effectively engage with the public on this issue. This project clearly found the local community is looking for scientifically supported information presented in a manner in which they can identify.