Immunization Outreach & Vaccine Accountability

The Immunization Outreach program at Spokane Regional Health District is dedicated to providing the community with scientifically-based information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. The program does not receive any funds from pharmaceutical companies or other for-profit companies.  

Staff hold integrity and respect as our program’s highest values and understand the importance of compassion and collaboration in health care decisions. Positive support for vaccines creates a productive dialogue when the community can access a trusted resource locally. These conversations and accurate information help parents, caregivers, and other community members make an informed decision about vaccines. Spokane Regional Health District professionals would not recommend vaccination if it was not safe.

Vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza and pneumonia, continue to be a leading cause of death in the United States. And, while not circulating at high levels in the Spokane community, diseases that vaccines prevent like measles and polio continue to be only a plane ride away. Vaccines are not just for children--it is important that all individuals stay current on all vaccines throughout life. One out of three people who contracted chickenpox as a child will develop very painful shingles in life. Receiving the shingles vaccine at age 60 and older, when the immune system begins to weaken, greatly reduces the negative effects of shingles.

The Immunization Outreach program works closely with community partners and health care providers to overcome barriers to immunization that communities face and improve services. Overcoming these barriers, such as vaccine supply and access, provides families and individuals the opportunity to protect themselves against diseases.

Examples of activities include local vaccine program oversight and monitoring, community immunization events, medical office-based quality improvement projects, and vaccinator training programs.

The work of this program is important because the partnerships formed and the activities implemented help guide the efforts of the community to increase immunization uptake and reduce vaccine-preventable diseases.

Funding

Vaccine Accountability activities in this program are primarily funded through a contract with Washington State Department of Health (DOH).

Immunization Outreach activities are primarily funded with local public health funds and some complementary funding from various grant sources such as Group Health Foundation. The Immunization Outreach program works with groups such as pediatric and family practice medical offices, pharmacies, and other outside agencies like WithinReach, ESD 101, and Washington State University Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy to carry out its mission.

Additionally, this program coordinates an open forum called the Immunization Outreach Network for community partners to help inform this program’s direction and efforts.