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Upshot 4-30-13
Upshot 4-30-13
April 2013
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.
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
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.