al
i
c
e
Sp tion!
i
Ed
GOT
An Immunization Update from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
SHOTS
WS
Special Edition - April 2016
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is
April 16-23, 2016
Improving infant immunization rates starts in pregnancy
Protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases starts before
they’re even born. Providers who care for pregnant women have a
unique opportunity to make sure mom is fully vaccinated, and to
start the conversation about what vaccines the baby will need after
they’re born.
Immunize mom to protect her baby
Pregnant women are recommended to get flu and pertussis vaccines.
Flu vaccine can be given anytime during pregnancy and pertussis
vaccine (Tdap) is recommended to be given in the third trimester.
Getting vaccinated while pregnant protects mom and allows her to
produce antibodies that are passed to her baby protecting the baby
until they are old enough to get vaccinated.
A key factor in making sure pregnant women get these vaccines is a
strong provider recommendation. A recent national survey of
pregnant women conducted by CDC showed a eight-fold increase in
flu vaccination rates when a clinician offered and gave the vaccine.
An expectant parent is typically doing everything she can to keep
herself and her unborn child healthy, like
avoiding certain foods and drugs. Let her A key factor in making sure
pregnant women get these
know that getting her flu and Tdap
vaccines
is a strong provider
vaccines is just another step towards
recommendation.
keeping herself and her baby healthy.
It’s never too early to think about immunizations for your baby
A 2006 qualitative study in the journal of Pediatrics by Benin et al.,
found that many mothers immediately post-partum had already
decided whether or not to immunize their infants or delay
immunizations. Social networks and information on the Internet are
key sources of immunization information, but providers are an
important and influential part of an expectant parent’s social network.
Have some immunization materials and websites at your fingertips
that you can give to expectant parents. Organizations like these are a
great place to start:
• MDH (www.health.state.mn.us/immunize)
• CDC (www.cdc.gov/vaccines)
• American Academy of Pediatrics
(http://www2.aap.org/immunization)
• Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
(www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center)
Take time to answer questions
Discussing vaccines may raise questions or concerns. Your responses
don’t have to be long. You should acknowledge the parents’
concerns, provide accurate information, and encourage them to keep
exploring reliable information.
Participate in National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)!
Minnesota parents and providers are doing a great job vaccinating!
The majority of parents fully vaccinate their child, which protects
both the child and the community. While rates are pretty high,
there’s still work to be done. We need your help to spread
information about infant immunization across the state, and NIIW is
the perfect time.
You can find these campaign resources on our NIIW website
(www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/niiw.html) under
the “Provider Resources” section:
• sample social media messages
• template news release
• key messages
• immunization word search
• coloring sheets
• immunization posters for exam rooms, lobbies, etc.
Tell us how you’re celebrating NIIW! Whether it’s big or small, we
want to know what activities and events are happening across the
state. Check out some of the activities going on in your area and
submit your activities on our NIIW Activities (www.health.state.
mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/niiwactivity.html) website.
NIIW Facebook event for parents
The Minnesota Childhood Immunization Coalition is hosting a virtual
event on Facebook for parents to ask questions about immunizations.
The event will be on Monday, April 18 from 5-8 p.m. Experts
participating in the event include:
• Dr. Paul Offit, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Patsy Stinchfield, CPNP, Children’s Hospitals MN
• Stephanie Rodriquez-Moser, IBCLC, Lakewood Health System
• Emily Stevenson, Minnesota mom
Help promote the event with your patients by sharing the Facebook
event page (www.facebook.com/events/1057775277613492).
#VaxQA NIIW Twitter chat
Participate and engage with CDC and others during the #VaxQA
Twitter chat on Wednesday, April 20 from 3-4 p.m. (CT). The chat will
discuss the importance of vaccines for babies and young children.
Connect with MDH on Facebook and Twitter
“Like” MDH on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mnhealth) and
“follow” MDH on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mnhealth) to share
immunization messages during NIIW and beyond.
We all have a role in improving immunization rates among infants in
Minnesota. The conversation needs to start before the baby is born
and continue through childhood. Childhood diseases that were once
common are rarely seen in the U.S. because of the success of
immunizations. We have the power to protect children from these
dangerous diseases!
MDH Immunization Program 1-800-657-3970
www.health.state.mn.us/immunize
Page 1 of 1