Goal:

1. Vaccine Education and Outreach: The program emphasizes the importance of vaccines through educational campaigns and outreach activities. The Health Department collaborates with healthcare providers, schools, community organizations, and the media to disseminate accurate information about vaccines, debunk myths, and address concerns. By promoting vaccine literacy, the program encourages informed decision-making and fosters a culture of vaccination.
2. Childhood Immunization: The Vaccines for Adults and Children Program places significant emphasis on childhood immunization, recognizing it as a crucial foundation for lifelong health. The program ensures that children receive timely vaccinations, following the recommended immunization schedule. Through partnerships with pediatricians, clinics, and schools, the Health Department provides access to vaccines, tracks immunization records, and conducts reminder systems to ensure high vaccination rates among children.
3. Adult Immunization: To address the vaccination needs of adults, the program focuses on increasing awareness and access to vaccines that protect against diseases prevalent in adulthood. The Health Department provides information on recommended vaccines for different age groups, including influenza, pneumococcal, and shingles vaccines. By collaborating with healthcare providers, employers, and community centers, the program promotes routine adult immunization and encourages individuals to stay up-to-date with their vaccinations.
4. Vaccine Delivery and Accessibility: The program strives to make vaccines easily accessible to the community. This includes establishing vaccination clinics in healthcare facilities, schools, workplaces, and community centers. Additionally, the Health Department works towards removing financial barriers by offering low-cost or free vaccines to eligible individuals. By ensuring the availability and affordability of vaccines, the program aims to maximize immunization coverage and protect vulnerable populations.
5. Vaccine Monitoring and Surveillance: The Vaccines for Adults and Children Program emphasizes the importance of monitoring vaccine safety and effectiveness. The Health Department implements surveillance systems to detect and investigate adverse events following immunization. By closely monitoring vaccine-related data, the program ensures the ongoing safety of vaccines and takes prompt action if any concerns arise. This proactive approach builds public trust in vaccination and reinforces the program's commitment to safety.

The Vaccines for Adults and Children Program, led by the Garrett County Health Department, plays a vital role in promoting health, preventing diseases, and safeguarding communities. Through vaccine education, outreach, childhood, and adult immunization initiatives, accessible delivery, and robust surveillance, the program addresses the unique vaccination needs of individuals of all ages. By prioritizing immunization and empowering individuals to make informed decisions, the program significantly contributes to the overall well-being and resilience of the community, ensuring a healthier future for all.

Strategy Description:

The Health Department's Vaccine Program Strategy is a comprehensive approach designed to enhance immunization coverage, promote public health, and protect communities from vaccine-preventable diseases. This strategy encompasses various key elements, including vaccine education and promotion, vaccine access and delivery, community engagement, and continuous monitoring. By addressing these aspects, the program aims to ensure widespread vaccine uptake, equitable access, and optimal protection against infectious diseases.

1. Vaccine Education and Promotion: The Vaccine Program Strategy emphasizes the importance of vaccine education and promotion. The Health Department uses recommendations from the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) to provide accurate, evidence-based information about vaccines, addressing common misconceptions and concerns. Through various channels such as social media, public service announcements, and community events, the program aims to increase vaccine literacy and foster public trust in vaccination.
2. Vaccine Access and Delivery: Ensuring equitable access to vaccines is a priority of the program strategy. The Health Department collaborates with healthcare providers, clinics, and community organizations to establish vaccination sites in underserved areas. Community vaccination clinics and homebound vaccine administration are established to reach remote and vulnerable populations. The program also facilitates vaccine distribution to long-term care facilities and implements strategies to reduce barriers such as cost, transportation, and language accessibility, ensuring that vaccines are accessible to all.
3. Community Engagement and Partnerships: Engaging with communities and building partnerships is integral to the success of the program strategy. The Health Department actively collaborates with community leaders, faith-based organizations, schools, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about vaccines, address community-specific concerns, and promote immunization. By involving trusted voices, the program builds trust, fosters dialogue, and tailors interventions to the unique needs of different communities.
4. Provider Training and Support: The Vaccine Program Strategy recognizes the crucial role of healthcare providers in vaccine delivery. The Health Department offers training and support to healthcare professionals to ensure they are equipped with the latest information on vaccines, immunization schedules, and administration best practices. This training enhances provider confidence in vaccine recommendations and improves the quality of vaccination services delivered.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: To maintain the effectiveness of the program, continuous monitoring and evaluation are conducted. The Health Department establishes robust surveillance systems to track immunization rates, monitor vaccine coverage, and detect any potential adverse events. Data analysis and evaluation help identify areas for improvement, assess the impact of the program, and guide evidence-based decision-making. Regular feedback from healthcare providers, community partners, and the public informs program adjustments and ensures its ongoing effectiveness.

The Health Department's Vaccine Program Strategy combines education, access, community engagement, and monitoring to enhance immunization coverage and protect public health. By promoting vaccine education, ensuring access to vaccines, engaging communities, supporting healthcare providers, and monitoring program effectiveness, the strategy aims to achieve high vaccination rates, reduce vaccine-preventable diseases, and safeguard the well-being of individuals and communities. This comprehensive approach contributes to the overall goal of creating healthier and resilient populations. The Garrett County Health Department will maintain a supply of A.C.I.P. recommended vaccines for children and adults, including a supply of Vaccines for Children (VFC) vaccines for uninsured and underinsured children aged 0-18 years.

Level of Change:

Programs

Primary Focus Area:

Chronic Diseases and their common risk factors: lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use

Data Category Tag:

GCHD Personal Health

Strategic Planning Alignment:

Education

Estimated Implementation Date:

2021-07-06

Estimated Completion Date:

2021-12-31

Estimated Ease of Implementation:

Easy

Estimated Cost of Implementation:

Moderate

Potential Community Benefit:

High

Health Equity:

The program takes a proactive approach to mitigate health disparities and promote equitable access to vaccines. Here's how health equity and social determinants of health are integrated into the initiative:

1. Targeted Outreach to Underserved Communities: The program recognizes that certain populations face barriers to accessing healthcare services, including vaccines, due to social determinants of health such as socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, language, and geographic location. To address these disparities, targeted outreach efforts are implemented to reach underserved populations. This may involve mobile vaccination administration, community clinics, and partnerships with local and private schools.
2. Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Communication: The initiative acknowledges the importance of clear, culturally sensitive, and linguistically appropriate communication to overcome language and cultural barriers. Information about vaccines, their benefits, and the vaccination process is available in multiple languages. Ensuring individuals from diverse backgrounds can access accurate information and make informed decisions about vaccination.
3. Collaboration with Community Partners: The program actively engages community partners, including local organizations, faith-based groups, and community leaders, to better understand the unique needs and challenges faced by specific populations. By collaborating with these partners, we can identify and address social determinants of health impacting vaccine access, such as transportation barriers, housing instability, or limited healthcare resources in certain neighborhoods. The collaboration helps tailor vaccination efforts to the specific needs of the community, ensuring equitable access and uptake.
4. Health Equity Data Analysis: The program incorporates data analysis to identify and address health disparities. By examining vaccination rates, coverage, and outcomes across different demographic groups, the Health Department can identify disparities and target interventions accordingly. This data-driven approach helps ensure that resources are allocated to areas and populations that are disproportionately affected by social determinants of health, aiming to reduce disparities in vaccination rates and health outcomes.
5. Collaboration with Social Service Agencies: Recognizing that social determinants of health extend beyond the healthcare system, the initiative collaborates with social service agencies to provide comprehensive support to individuals and communities. This may include linking individuals to resources for housing, food security, transportation, and other social services that can positively impact their overall health and well-being. By addressing social determinants of health in tandem with vaccine access, the program promotes health equity and creates a more holistic approach to community health.

By considering health equity and social determinants of health, the Health Department's Vaccine Program Strategy aims to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances, have equitable access to vaccines. The initiative strives to reduce disparities in vaccine uptake and health outcomes, promoting a more equitable and inclusive approach to public health

Research:

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)   Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases 13th Edition CDC/US Department of Health and Human Services State of Maryland Vaccine Requirements for Children Enrolled in School Vaccine Requirements for Children Enrolled in Preschool Programs and in Schools per COMAR 10.06.04.03 Social Determinants of Health Vaccine Requirements for [email protected]