TIP Stakeholder MeetingsPresented to

The Texas Immunization Stakeholder Workgroup

Anna C. Dragsbaek

President/CEO

May 20, 2010

Background on Immunization Stakeholder Meetings

• Conducted eight town hall meetings in 2008• Distributed Survey to over 700 stakeholders• Culminated in Texas Immunization Summit

– 200+ stakeholder attended– Shared meetings results, best practices, and

recommendations• Published guide:

Texans Speak Out: How to Improve Immunization Rates

Legislative Accomplishments

• SB 346 by Chairwoman Jane Nelson (R - Flower Mound): 

Adults may now enter their information into the state immunization registry, ImmTrac.

• SB 347 by Chairwoman Jane Nelson (R - Flower Mound): 

Allows Texas to share information with other states if there is an emergency in Texas that forces Texans to surrounding states. 

• HB 4189 by Chairman Patrick Rose (D - Dripping Springs): 

Effective January 2010, any student entering a dormitory for the first time must have the meningitis vaccine.

2010 Immunization Stakeholder Meetings

• Objectives– Share hot topics in immunization on the

national front– Discuss immunization challenges– Learn how to be an effective

immunization advocate

2010 Immunization Stakeholder Meetings

Completed Meeting

• Houston• El Paso• Dallas• San Antonio

Scheduled Meetings

• Abilene – June 2• Fort Worth – June 9• Galveston – June 14• McAllen – June 16• Brownsville – June 16• Austin – June 18

Stakeholder Meetings and Public Engagement

• Public engagement through stakeholder meetings ensure continuous improvement of the immunization delivery system

Exchange informational need through informal dialogue

Identify opportunities and evaluate policy options

Communicate through legislative/grassroots efforts

Stakeholder Meeting Highlights

• Private Practice Barriers– Cost and reimbursement of vaccines– Lack of public acceptance of vaccine

recommendations– Lack of interface between electronic

medical record and immunization registry

Stakeholder Meeting Highlights

• ImmTrac– Opt-in vs. opt-out– Data quality and other technical issues– Lack of provider participation; need for

improved promotion efforts– Need for increased functionality during

H1N1– Interoperability between registry and

EMR

Stakeholder Meeting Highlights

• Border Issues– Need for border collaboration during

H1N1– Influx of residents due to drug raids;

inadequate documentation of vaccination and insufficient resources to handle demand

Stakeholder Meeting Highlights

• H1N1– Lack of awareness on vaccine

availability, confusion about priority groups

– Vaccine hesitancy and lack of trust in H1N1 led to decreased uptake

– Supply could not accommodate demand – Complex pre-registration and ordering

process

Stakeholder Meeting Highlights

• Healthcare Worker Vaccination– Need to implement training for all levels

of healthcare providers– Share best practices from across the

state– Modify messages to encourage HCW

vaccination, “vaccine is like a glove”

Stakeholder Meeting Highlights

• Vaccine Hesitancy– Anti-vaccine groups continue to gain

momentum– Need to combat anti-vaccine messages

with experience and personal testimony

Next Steps

• Answer survey online

• Watch the website for action items: www.immunizeUSA.org

• Attend the Summit this Fall—September 30 & Oct 1 in FORT WORTH!

• Tell your story!

Anna C. Dragsbaek:

acdragsbaek@immunizeUSA.org

Nidhi M. Nakra:

nnakra@immunizeUSA.org

Maureen Moore:

mmoore@immunizeUSA.org

Contact Information