Staff Reports
The Bartholomew County Health Department received two awards recently from the Indiana Immunization Coalition at its third annual award ceremony.
The coalition honored winners of Outstanding Practice and High Flyers awards on May 9 at the Ritz Charles in Carmel.
Outstanding Practice winners were nominated in one of two areas: work with toddlers (the Callie Van Tornhout Toddler Award) or work with teens (Kristen Forbes Teen Award).
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High Flyers awards were given in multiple categories:
Adult immunization provider/advocate
HPV vaccine innovative program
Chronic disease care
Pharmacy
Innovative immunization program
Rotavirus immunization provider
Meningococcal B vaccine promotion
Immunization public health advocate
Immunization innovation in school technology
Immunization Hoosier advocate award
The Bartholomew County Health Department won a Kristen Forbes Teen Immunization Rate award, and a Meningococcal B Vaccine Promotion award.
The department has worked to increase meningococcal B vaccinations in multiple ways:
Meningococcal B vaccine discussed at patient appointments
Vaccine offered to any client who meets the age requirement
Further patient education provided if necessary
Sponsored a meningitis lunch-and-earn event at a local college where meningitis survivor Ashley Goeller shared her story with nursing students and health care providers
Educational packets distributed to various schools during school physical nights
Reminder recalls completed several times a year to clients who are eligible for immunizations
Promoted meningococcal immunizations through local radio and billboard awareness messages
