Northwood?s Immunization Coalition schedules activities
The Northwood’s Immunization Coalition is a partnership consisting of representatives from local health departments, public and private health care providers and local school districts. The NIC was started in 2005 to provide accurate immunization information and to improve childhood and adult immunization levels.
The group met in January to plan long term and short term goals and objectives for 2014 and beyond. The mission of the NIC is to collaborate to decrease vaccine preventable disease by providing community-wide initiatives to improve immunization rates, educate the public and offer training to health care providers.
Three goals were identified by the coalition members:
1. Increase immunization rates among all ages;
2. Educate consumers, health care providers, schools and the media;
3. Provide trainings for health care providers on the most current recommendations and best practice for immunizations.
These goals were then broken down more specifically to incorporate coalition activities. This year, the NIC celebrates Infant Immunization Week April 26 to May 3, the Back to School Immunization Campaign in late summer and fall, and the Community Influenza Campaign in the fall to improve influenza (flu shot) immunization rates. New vaccine recommendations will be emphasized on improving adolescent and teen immunization coverage and on Tdap vaccine for parent’s siblings, grandparents and caregivers of newborns to protect against pertussis. Older adults may need immunizations too to protect against pneumonia and shingles. Immunizations are for all ages.
Coalition members are working to decrease the misconceptions and barriers to immunization by linking services at WIC and HealthCheck, offering immunization only appointments, providing up to date immunization records, and decreasing wait times. It is important to get the vaccines needed according to the recommended immunization schedule.
For more information, call the Northwood’s Immunization Coalition through the Vilas County Public Health Department at 715-479-3658; Forest County Health Department at 715-478-3371; or Oneida County Health Department at 715-369-6111.
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