Immu-News

Immunization Initiatives Updates

“What Do Migrants from Mexico, Central and South America Think About Immunization?”

Welcome to Immu-News, the first Immunization Initiatives online update, a monthly resource for the community of participants in this project and anyone interested in immunization issues for mobile populations. We will begin posting resources monthly, but we hope to evolve into a more interactive form, something that will truly be of service to you as each of you searches for ways to improve your ability to record and access immunization data, to increase immunizations provided to your clients, and thus to improve the health of your community.

Udates will address different topics each month, and we welcome suggestions of topics that are important to you. Postings may include articles, resources, links, and advice from our Initiative Advisory Council members who will also take turns serving as Listserv moderators. The updates will be kept short—from two to four items—so that you won’t be inundated with information.

Immu-News is also pleased to feature Clinic Highlights, best practices from the real world clinics participating in Immunization Initiatives. We will begin with next month’s update.

And finally CHECK BACK HERE monthly for immunization resources and informations that clinicians serving the mobile poor can use!

Immunization Initiatives Update May 2009

Our May topic is “What Do Migrants from Mexico, Central and South America Think About Immunization?” MCN has conducted several focus groups in recent years on this topic, and we share with you, in two papers, what we learned in these focus groups.

1. Salisbury, Maryland Immunization Focus Groups with Migrant Women. Click here for the whole pdf file. Two focus groups with migrant women help us to understand their experiences regarding immunization Some of the general trends from the focus groups are highlighted below.

• The majority of participants reported a general disregard by US clinicians for vaccination records from their sending country, resulting in the revaccination of their children.
• Issues of access to immunizations emerged after the children turned two, and for women and children not associated with WIC.
• None of the participants knew that as adults they should get vaccinated.
• The participants receive the Vaccination Information Statements, but they are not reading them in their current form.

2. Working with Hispanic Indigenous Migrant Men from Mexico and Guatemala to Promote Immunization. Click here for the whole pdf file. Trends from five focus groups conducted in Mexico, California, and Florida included the following:

• Vaccines are primarily for children, and possibly for women.
• Men had experience with tetanus shots as adults, but the only other adult vaccine about which there was general awareness was the flu vaccine.
• Knowledge of how vaccines work was limited, and participants occasionally confused vaccination with injectable medications and very occasionally, with illegal drugs
• Overall, men believe in the efficacy and importance of immunization, but strong elements of suspicion for US and other healthcare systems remain.

Immunization educational materials now available!

The Pepin Comic Book Series

The Pepin Comic Book animated series covers seven immunization topics: Td, Chickenpox, MMR, DTaP, Hep A, Hep B, and After the Shot. These low literate, popular education materials are available in English and Spanish to help clinicians educate parents about the importance of getting their children vaccinated.

Guide to Recommended Vaccines for Recent Immigrants from Mexico

Recommended Vaccines for Recent Immigrants from Mexico provides recommendations for clinicians offering vaccines to non
high-risk recently arrived Mexican immigrants, by age, to bring them up to date with the US recommendations.

Order Your Resources Now!

To order The Pepin Comic Book Series or Guide to Recommended Vaccines for Recent Immigrants form Mexico, send us an email with the following:

• Full Name
• Organization
• Position
• Full Physical Shipping Address
• Resource Name(s)
• Quantity Requsted

These materials are available at no cost. We charge, however, a $50 shipping and handling fee for all orders. If this is cost prohibitive, please contact us. We will respond within several days to your request. ORDER NOW AS SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED!

Immunization Initiative at Migrant Clinician Network

The Immunization Initiative at the Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN) is devoted to promoting and improving childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization coverage levels among migrant and other mobile underserved populations. Funding for this project is obtained from a cooperative agreement with the National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MCN and the Immunization Initiative provides training and technical assistance to Migrant Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Start Centers, Migrant Education Programs, employers, and state and local health departments to manage complex cultural issues of mobile underserved populations and in strategies to reach them and help minimize the barriers to full immunizations.

The Immunization initiative also develops popular-educational materials and resources which are culturally and linguistically appropriate; and in an easy to understand format. The materials assist clinicians in educating and encouraging migrants to get vaccinated and to vaccinate their children.

For technical assistance please contact Kate Bero , Manager Immunization Initiative.