1. Galveston County Health District Immunization Programs

2. History
Immunizations given 2 half-days a week on the mainland by a TDH nurse; also given though Well Child and OB clinics; immunization compliance assessed during well child conferences, well baby home visits, and by school nurses
1970’s Galveston Health Department became part of GCHD; immunizations still only 2 half-days per week; CHN’s helped with back-to-school rush; clerk sent out immunization reminders

3. History (cont)
1980’s Immunization Nurse funded; CHN’s worked closely with day care centers and schools; no formal tracking program; Immunizations were provided on the island, mainland, and in outreach locations in the North county
1990’s Clerk hired; TVFC program started in 1994; ICES and CASA systems initiated; first CASA report showed Galveston at 43% (children 2 and under)
TVFC = Texas Vaccines for Children Program
ICES =
CASA =

4. History (cont)
2000 to present ICES updated to TWICES (web-based electronic immunization records); GCHD was one of the first to pilot PICS (TDH pharmacy inventory)
Currently
3 satellite clinics open a total of 80 hours per week
8 FTE’s (Immunization nurses and clerks)
42 VFC providers (GCHD responsible for training, monitoring, follow-up site visits)
~ $ 375,000 budget (with ~ $85,000 reimbursed)
TWICES = web-based electronic immunization records
ImmTrac=
PICS =

5. Eradicate vaccine preventable diseases from Galveston county
TDH Vision and Mission
Vision
Eradicate vaccine preventable diseases from Galveston county
Mission
To immunize all children in Galveston county by age two in accordance with the current Texas Department of Health recommendations.

6. PREVENTION BY MMUNIZATION
PRIORITY #8:
PREVENTION BY MMUNIZATION
Immunize Children
and Adults
to Prevent Infectious Diseases.

7. Strategic Health Plan Goals
Goal 1: Designate leadership and establish local plans and goals
Goal 2: Improve availability and accuracy of local data to enhance tracking, assessment, and feedback
Goal 3: Identify and reduce barriers to immunizations
Goal 4: Increase education and awareness among all responsible groups
Goal 5: Define, align, coordinate, and seek resources
Entire Strategic Health Plan can be viewed at

8. Goal 1: Designate leadership and establish local plans and goals
Objective One: Establish the Galveston County Health District as the lead organization for local planning to improve immunization rates using the medical home model in Galveston County.
Galveston County Immunization Advisory Council was established and had first meeting on 7/8/04
Some examples of how goals are met

9. Increase number of Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers
Goal 2: Improve availability and accuracy of local data to enhance tracking, assessment, and feedback
Increase number of Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers
2003: 35 VFC providers
Currently: 42 providers
Retrospective kindergarten studies
2003 study (2/04) assessed immunization status of children who would have been 2 years old in ; 60.7% adequately immunized ( ) by age 2 and 87.4% by age 5. National goal is 80%.

10. Goal 2: Improve availability and accuracy of local data to enhance tracking, assessment, and feedback (cont)
Day care studies
2003 study (completed January 2004)
155 childcare facilities
5304 records
Initial visit 82.4% “up-to-date” (in compliance with TDH Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Texas Children)
30- day follow-up visit: 99.3% up-to-date
Reports available at

11. Goal 4: Increase education and awareness among all responsible groups
Education efforts January- June 2004:
Presented or hosted 5 educational activities with a total of 80 participants
Participated in at least 2 health fairs and the Teen Health Round-up
Answered 1,387 phone calls related to vaccination from school nurses, medical offices, and the public
Participated in educational activities related to bioterrorism/ emergency management (mass vaccination clinics, Strategic National Stockpile, mass antibiotic administration)

12. Annual Activities National Infant Immunization Week Activities
Kid’s Fest- Back-to-School Immunization Clinics
Senior Health Fests with “Flu Shot” activities

13. National Infant Immunization Week
April 26- May 1, 2004
Regular immunization clinics + 1 outreach clinic per day- locations determined by “pockets of need” (19 immunization sessions)
281 people immunized
786 immunizations given
39 volunteers
4,000 fliers distributed

14. Kid’s Fests- Back-to-School Immunizations

15. Kid’s Fests- Back-to-School Immunizations
Texas City and Dickinson Immunization Clinics relocated to La Marque office July 26- August 17
Galveston Clinics remain the same
2003: 3,212 immunizations given at La Marque Clinic; 4,692 immunizations total in August 2004

16. Senior Health Fests October 2003 activities: 6 locations
461 immunizations given
Other activities included B/P checks, diabetes screenings, exercise demonstration, assistance with QMB

17. “Thinking Progressively for Health” Award
Presented to GCHD staff at Texas Public Health Association meeting April , 2004
For aggressive strategies being taken in Galveston County to improve immunization rates with innovative outreach techniques implemented by the District such as the "medical home model" of immunization delivery which promotes the delivery of immunizations within ones medical home and encourages clinical preventative healthcare

18. 2004 TDH Immunization Audit July 2004* **
Drop-out rate: DtaP
Drop-out rate:
Hep B
Missed opportunities
LaMarque
80%
13% 7% 0%
Galveston
81%
16% 3%
Dickinson
70%
68%
23% 9% 2%
Texas City
75%
20% 5%

19. Immunization Staff