Scenario:
You work for the local public health department in the Immunization Registry and Vaccine for Children (VFC) division. Your job is to interface with local pediatricians and primary care physicians, making sure immunizations are being properly reported and the providers that participate in the VFC immunization program are properly documenting vaccine use and patient information.
You have been briefed by the chief epidemiologist who states that a growing public complacency about the need for childhood immunizations has resulted in record low levels of registry immunizations against preventable diseases. You must put together a plan to educate the physicians of this potentially serious risk to the community and make them aware of the growing population of unimmunized and under-immunized children and what they may do to help correct this concern.
Respond to the following:
- How will you approach the physician community and get their buy-in to increase immunization efforts with their patient populations?
- What benefits does an up-to-date immunization registry provide to (1) parents, (2) immunization providers, and (3) the public
- What educational materials, services, programs, or support can local, state, and federal public health agencies offer to the providers and the community for improving registry statistics?
