Issue: #7

April 2013

Special Spring Issue

National Infant Immunization Week Importance of Vaccines Public Health Priorities Immunization Legislation Celebrating National Infant Immunization Week

Welcome to Ohio Upshot

Ohio Upshot is a newsletter to help educate policy makers, community leaders and the public on the valuable role vaccines play in keeping our schools, workplaces and communities healthy. It is sent to you by the Immunization Advocacy Network of Ohio, a network of public health advocates, medical associations, education groups, community organizations and others committed to a healthy Ohio.

Special Spring Issue National Infant Immunization Week, April 20-27, 2013 & Immunization Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse.
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. Since 1994, NIIW has served as a call to action for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure that infants are fully immunized against 14 vaccinepreventable diseases. On April 9th, 2013, the Immunization Advocacy Network of Ohio hosted their first Immunization Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse. More than 50 immunization providers, researchers and advocates from across Ohio gathered in Columbus to meet with elected officials and discuss the value of vaccines for all Ohioans.

IANO Partners
to date
Action for Children Adult Immunization Coalition of Central Ohio CareSource Children's Defense Fund - Ohio Cincinnati Cervical Cancer Prevention Coalition City of Cincinnati Health Department Cuyahoga County Board of Health Greater Cincinnati Immunization Coalition Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio Immunizeohio.org Consortium for Healthy and Immunized Communities (CHIC) National Association of Social Workers - Ohio Chapter Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children Ohio Academy of Family Physicians Ohio Association of Community Health Centers Ohio Association of School Nurses Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Children's Hospital Association Ohio Family Care Association Ohio Hispanic Coalition Ohio Hospital Association Ohio Osteopathic Association Ohio Pharmacists Association Ohio Public Health Association Ohio School Based Health Care Association Ohio State Medical Association Project L.O.V.E. Toledo / Lucas County CareNet Voices for Ohio's Children

Luncheon speakers included, from left, Dr. Michael Brady, Dr. Ted Wymyslo, Melissa Wervey Arnold and State Representative Anne Gonzales.

Advocates from LifeCare Alliance discuss immunizations with Dr. Michael Brady, who provided the keynote address.

Pediatrician Stresses Importance of Immunization

Immunization advocates had the opportunity to hear from one of the nation's leading experts on vaccination at the IANO Legislative Day luncheon. Dr. Michael Brady is Physician-inChief at Columbus Nationwide Children's Hospital and also chairs the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University and the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics. He offered those in attendance who compelling evidence of the effectiveness of a robust immunization program. Dr. Brady began by listing ten communicable diseases and how many cases of each occurred annually during the 20th century. He then showed the percentage by which cases had decreased by 2010. The numbers ranged from a 100% decrease for smallpox, diphtheria, congenital rubella and polio to an 86% decrease for rubella. He used these figures to support his assertion that "vaccination is the greatest medical achievement of the 20th century." While acknowledging that vaccines are neither completely effective nor completely risk-free, Dr. Brady noted that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Vaccines not only reduce illness and deaths, but offer a substantial cost savings over treating the diseases they prevent. The immunization program in the U.S. has been so successful, Dr. Brady said, that many parents no longer appreciate the significance of immunizing their children. He recalled families lining up at public health clinics for polio vaccine in the 1950's, and noted that as recently as the 1980's, a child with an unexplained high fever was likely to be subjected to a spinal tap to check for meningitis. Today,
See Brady pg 2

Brady contd from pg 1

polio has been eradicated in the U.S. and the frequency of meningitis is greatly reduced. Because parents don't see serious vaccine-preventable communicable diseases often, they have lost the sense of urgency about immunizing their children and some of them are more likely to entertain inaccurate claims about the risks of vaccines. He cites studies by the Institute of Medicine that validate the safety of the current recommended vaccination schedule.
Dr. Michael Brady speaks to the success of vaccines but also expressed concern that Ohio is the only state without a requirement for vaccines in child care settings.

Dr. Brady also supported a mandate for vaccinating children in the preschool setting, a mandate that Ohio currently lacks at the state level. He presented statistics showing that influenza, pneumococcal meningitis and rotavirus are common in children too young to likely to get vaccine-preventable diseases themselves, but also less likely to infect other children, parents, school staff and others. be covered by the school-age vaccination requirement. Research also shows they are more likely to have a medical home, that is, to be medically treated in a setting where they will Finally, Dr. Brady pointed out that when children are vaccinated get developmental assessments and appropriate treatment. according to the recommended schedule, they are not only less

Director Offers Public Health Update

Dr. Ted Wymyslo provided IANO Advocacy Day attendees with an update on the current priorities in the public health arena.

Pending Legislation Update

H.B. 94 - State Representative Anne Gonzales The bill would require a health insuring corporation, public employee benefit plan, or sickness and accident insurer to reimburse a board of health for any services provided to an individual by the board that is covered by a plan issued to the individual by the health insuring corporation, public employee benefit plan, or sickness and accident insurer upon request submitted by the board of health. The bill was introduced in the House in early March and was assigned to the House Insurance Committee. The bill had a sponsor hearing on April 16th. S.B. 93 - State Senator Edna Brown The bill would require insurance companies to cover screening for HPV (human papillomavirus) and vaccination for the disease. Senate Bills 79, 80, and 81Eric Kearney Senate Bill 79 would allow pharmacists and their interns, under supervision, to administer certain vaccines to children seven years old and older. The vaccines included in the bill are influenza, pneumonia, tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, meningitis, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Senate Bill 80 would allow a pharmacy intern under the direct supervision of a pharmacist to administer all the same vaccines that the pharmacist is permitted to administer. Senate Bill 81 would allow pharmacy interns to give a flu shot to those 14 years old and older, under the supervision of a pharmacist. There is a possibility that the three bills will be combined.

Speaking at IANO's April 9 Legislative Day luncheon, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Ted Wymyslo updated immunization advocates about current priorities in the public health arena. But he began by reminiscing about his own training as a physician, recalling the communicable diseases he encountered as a resident in the 1970s. Today's young doctors rarely see many of these illnesses because they are prevented through vaccinations. Doctor Wymyslo stressed that broader adherence to recommended vaccination schedules is necessary to maintain these advances in public health. He referenced the State's immunization database, Ohio ImpactSIIS (State Immunization Information System). Currently, healthcare providers enter information into the database when they administer a vaccine to a patient. Other providers can then access that information if they need to know what vaccinations have already been given, or if they need to provide vaccination records to a parent for school enrollment. Right now, only healthcare providers have access to the database. Dr. Wymyslo indicated that ODH is moving toward making the database accessible to patients who register online, so they can access their own records. He said this is part of the department's philosophy of helping individuals take more responsibility for participating in their own medical care. Dr. Wymyslo also reminded the audience about the importance of the shingles vaccine for older adults and noted that two new vaccines are being studied. Governor John Kasich proposed an expansion of Medicaid coverage in Ohio as part of his biennial budget and Dr. Wymyslo endorsed that plan, saying it's important to explore any available means for low income Ohioans to have access to a primary care physician and to affordable medical care. Finally, he noted that the budget also contains funding to allow ODH to place more emphasis on infant mortality in Ohio. The state ranks 11th worst in the nation in the death of children under one year of age, a figure ODH hopes to change. Educating parents about safe sleep practices will be part of the initiative. Dr. Wymyslo pointed out that when infants thrive and are able to attain productive futures, the benefits are felt in the education system and throughout the community.

Celebrating National Infant Immunization Week

Immunization providers from across Ohio celebrated National Infant Immunization Week in a variety of ways. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health celebrated National Infant Immunization week by offering free vaccine to all children five years old and younger. Immunization education filled tote bags were given to each parent and guardian. The Columbus Department of Health and Project L.O.V.E. kicked off the week by checking immunization records and giving immunization education presentations at day cares throughout the city. Balloons, educational information and gifts for infants were provided in the main health department lobby all week. Summit County Public Health hosted vaccine information tables at all WIC clinic sites throughout the week. Parents who completed a survey at the table had an opportunity to win a basket filled with infant and mom supplies, and educational materials. For information about the Immunization Advocacy Network of Ohio, to suggest content for future issues, or if you know of an organization that wishes to join IANO, please contact: Jenny Camper at jcamper@lesiccamper.com or Angela Snyder at asnyder@lesiccamper.com