DSHS Response to Meningococcal Requirement in Institutions of Higher Education Update

Luis ValenzuelaAdult & Adolescent Immunization CoordinatorTony Aragon, MSEpidemiologist, Acting Assessment, Compliance, & Evaluation Manager

June 21st, 2012

OutlineBackground: 82nd Texas Legislature Meningococcal Action Plan Texas Immunization Stakeholder Working Group (TISWG) CollaborationDSHS Immunization Branch Response EffortsTISWG Member Commitment HighlightsBarriers and Next StepsQ and A

Background:The 82nd Texas Legislature Adopted SB 1107Requires all entering students to show evidence of meningitis vaccineDoes not apply to students who are enrolled only in online or distance education courses or are 30 years of age or olderLegislation took effect Sept. 1, 2011Requirement was effective Jan. 1, 2012

2011 Fall Semester EnrollmentTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Estimates2011 THECB EstimatesEstimated 652,141first-time students of all ages 286,120 between the ages of 18 and 21168,228 between the ages of 22 and 29Total of 454,348 potentially affected by law

Meningococcal Action Plan

Immunization Branch developed an action plan with two main objectives:Ensure that 16 to 18 year olds receive a booster dose of meningococcal vaccine (medical recommendation)Ensure entering college students ages 19 to 29 receive an meningococcal vaccine within 5 years before enrolling in college

TISWG CollaborationHeld break-out sessions at March 2012 TISWGObtained several actionable itemsDSHS Immunization Branch executed communication plan with input from stakeholders focusing onProvider education Education for students and families Assisting institutions of higher education

DSHS Immunization Branch Response EffortsLaunched meningococcal microsite http://CollegeVaccineRequirements.ComIncludes information and resourcesMeningococcal Vaccine RequirementsObtaining vaccineDisease information Approximately 2,500 visitors since going live (5/18/12)

DSHS Immunization Branch Response EffortsMicrosite widely disseminated and referencedPublic health distribution listsClient encountersProfessional medical societiesSchool nurse networkTEASchanbaum MCV4 national media campaignColleges and universitiesDirect email blast to providers via EVI

DSHS Immunization Branch Response EffortsCreated informational 1-pagers for distributionFor health care providersFor entering college studentsWidely disseminated amongColleges and UniversitiesPublic health distribution listsProfessional medical societiesSchool nurse networkTEA

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsClark Petty (San Antonio Metro Health)

Made contact with Caf College and developed relationship

Forwarded microsite to the local colleges, universities

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsKirk White (Texas Administrators of Continuing Education, Houston Community College)Provided summary of TISWG meeting to President of TACE (who has been part of the meningitis vaccine law effort) and with HCC Meningitis Task Force Available to facilitate communications with the THECB, DSHS and Immunization Partnership on behalf of TACE as neededDistributed microsite to both HCC and the TACE membership

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsMaureen M. Moore (The Immunization Partnership)Immunization Champions projects in 7 clinics were fully briefed and encouraged to remind and recall their adolescent patients prior to summer rushInformation about MCV4 on The Immunization Partnerships website includes a videoWebsite has another page dedicated to meningitis disease information: www.immunizeusa.org/protect-college-students-from-meningitis

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsKate Alfano (Texas Academy of Family Physicians)

Promoted the website through electronic newsletter on May 31

Included presence on website

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsAlice Hallgren (Fort Bend County Clinical Health Services)Found local Pharmacies and Providers who cater to adults and compiled a list from this information and made it available to anyone seeking adult MCV4Instructed the staff who screen phone calls at our offices to provide this informationContacted several school nurses in our district, reminding them to inform their students who are turning 18 to get their booster MCV4 and the importance of signing up for IMMTRAC

Individual TISWG Member Commitments Kathy Cavin, Debbie Tucker, Isabel Hargrove (Austin/Travis County HHSD)Contacted all area colleges/universitiesSent letters to 19 high school nurses about ImmTrac and included info about MCV4 and college, offering assistance with college-bound seniorsAdded the microsite to Travis County VFC website

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsPatsy Schanbaum (The Jamie Group)MEDIA TOUR- referenced microsite and informed on meningococcal diseaseForwarded a list (with links) to media outletsIncluded microsite website - thejamiegroup.orgWill reach out to HEB

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsDaniel Acosta (Immunize El Paso)

Conducted vaccination campaign-target areas is the parent education

Continue to utilize media partners

Realized need for better communication with school officials

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsLala Yerger, Sharon Currie, Jennifer Sutherland, Deborah Hernandez (Corpus Christi Nueces County Health Dept.)In process of creating recall/reminderWebsite has been updated with links to collegevaccinerequirements, DSHS, CDC (National Vaccine Program), Immunization Action Coalition, Immunization Partnership and National Network on Immunization InformationLetters concerning vaccine (particularly MCV4) requirements were sent to parents with students at area high schools (distributed via CCISD cooperation and partnership)

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsLala Yerger, Sharon Currie, Jennifer Sutherland, Deborah Hernandez (Corpus Christi Nueces County Health Dept.)Six offsite vaccination clinics were conducted at five high schools and one charter schoolInsert has been completed and is awaiting printing and distribution in July city utility bills

Individual TISWG Member CommitmentsLeslie Myers (Safeway)

Provide resources and link to pharmacists

Educate parents, students, and school districts

Work with insurance payors to provide pharmacy coverage for vaccines

Barriers and Next StepsBarriersFast timelineNeeded a complete distribution list to send out timely information to all stakeholdersNext StepsUse distribution lists established for updates and to solicit feedbackContinue to work with stakeholdersWill continue to work with THECB and TISWG to provide updates as needed

Questions & AnswersTony AragonTony.aragon@dshs.state.tx.usLuis ValenzuelaLuis.valenzuela@dshs.state.tx.us

ConclusionChose most actionable, relevant items to execute with limited resourcesAll actions centered around communication planCan apply strategies and resources gained to future occurrencesWill continue to work with THECB and TISWG to provide updates as needed

***New students: a first-time student of an institution of higher education or private or independentinstitution of higher education, including a student who transfers to the institution from another institution

**Ensure that 16 to 18 year olds receive a booster dose of meningococcal vaccine (medical recommendation) not a school requirement

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