"Cocooning" the Entire State of Nevada to Prevent Pertussis In Newborns and Young Infants

Background:  Pertussis has been on the rise worldwide for 10-20 years.  Pertussis is currently epidemic in California, a state sharing a contiguous border with Nevada. The Nevada State Health Division (NSHD) and Nevada Immunization Coalitions wanted to create “cocooning” programs in all birthing hospitals in Nevada to further protect our youngest citizens.

Setting:  Eighteen hospitals across the state of Nevada.  

Population:  The mother/father or 2 significant others for all newborns in Nevada.  

Project Description:   I. Funding from $317 and ARA federal dollars twere used to purchased Tdap vaccine for this project.  We dispersed the Tdap in 2 tiers:      A. Halth care workers involved in patient care of newborns to infants less than 12 months.       B. Mother and father or  2 significant others for every newborn. II.  Immunization Special Projects Manager, in collaboration with others, created a letter of explanation and enrollment/order forms that were sent to all the hospitals in Nevada doing deliveries or having an Emergency Room.      A. As hospitals responded, a site visit was made to assess and educate the hospital on the principles of safe storage.  Some    hospitals had to purchase a new vaccine refrigerator to qualify for vaccine.      B. Hospitals were sent a “Cocooning” Tool Kit to help them  with the creation of the needed paperwork for this program.      C. Hospitals were invited to attend a workshop on beginning and sustaining a “Cocooning” program.      D.  Hospitals began ordering Tdap vaccine based on their monthly delivery rate.  

Results/Lessons Learned: We are continuing to educate and support our birthing hospitals as they begin “cocooning” in 2010 and into early 2011.  As of today, we have 10/18 birthing hospitals actively doing “Cocooning”.   We plan to have more data to report in 2012.