Strengthening Immunization Coverage in Your Office

The VFC Program provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them through a federal, state, and individual provider relationship. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) appreciates the essential role you play in preventing disease among Ohio’s children and adolescents. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination coverage levels have decreased, and vaccine exemptions have increased among kindergarteners at the national and state level. This has left many Ohio children and adolescents vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. 

ODH and Ohio AAP are partnering to encourage your practice to participate in two no-cost opportunities that support timely vaccination within your practice.  Please see the attachment for more information on these opportunities.

Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers (IQIP) is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-designed national quality improvement program for VFC-enrolled providers. 

IQIP uses evidence-based approaches and best practices to promote and support implementation of provider-level strategies to increase on-time vaccination of children and adolescents. Providers who participate in IQIP experience increases in vaccine coverage rates for their pediatric and adolescent patients. For example: 

  • On average, providers saw a 3% increase in coverage for DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) and MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccines. 
  • On average, providers saw a 7% increase in coverage for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine. 

If you agree to participate, an immunization consultant will help your practice focus on implementing simple and sustainable activities into your immunization workflow, resulting in long-term improvements. 

Maximizing Office-Based Immunization (MOBI) and Teen Immunization Education Sessions (TIES) are two programs that have been offered at no cost to immunization providers in Ohio for over 20 years and continue to offer essential education providing the most up-to-date immunization information. 

MOBI & TIES trainings include: 

  • Guidance on continuing immunization best practices. 
  • One (1)-hour CME for each session. 
  • Scheduling at your convenience. 
  • Virtual or in-person training format. 
  • Free office resources including:
    • CDC’s Pink Book. 
    • Reminder/recall postcards. 
    • Educational rack cards. 
    • Resource packets filled with essentials on immunization best practices. 

IQIP and MOBI/TIES are supported by ODH program staff, local health department immunization consultants, and the Ohio AAP. 

To participate or to learn more about IQIP and/or MOBI/TIES, please contact:  Lory Sheeran Winland at lwinland@ohioaap.org or (614) 846-6258