Transcript Barry S. Lachman, MD, MPH Medical Director 11/4/2011 The Issue  Vaccine utilization rates remain low  The ACIP has endorsed universal vaccination  Influenza.

Barry S. Lachman, MD, MPH
Medical Director
11/4/2011
The Issue
 Vaccine utilization rates remain low
 The ACIP has endorsed universal vaccination
 Influenza has a high impact on Medicaid STAR
plans in the first quarter of every year
 Influenza poses an increased risk in pregnant
women
 Cocooning has been proposed as a strategy to
improve protection against disease spread
Pregnant Women and Children
under Age 1
 Influenza poses increased risk in pregnant women
 Influenza has an increased risk in children under one
year
 Influenza vaccine cannot be given under on six
months
 Vaccination of pregnant women has been shown to
lower risk in their children under a year
 Influenza vaccine is safe during pregnancy
 OB providers often do not provide immunizations
Targeted Populations
 Pregnant women and their children under one year
 Children under 18
 Parents and other household members
PCHP Response:Pregnant
Women
 Produce a brochure in collaboration with Merck Vaccines
to promote immunization of pregnant women for pertussis
and influenza
 Provide the brochure to offices of community ob providers
in the Parkland Community Health Plan
 Medical Director academic detailing to high volume
community providers on vaccination during pregnancy
 Parkland Hospital which accounts for 2/3 of PHCP 22,000
deliveries per year (1:1000 US births!) routinely offers
pertussis and influenza vaccine
PCHP Response: Children
 Expansion of the partnership with Pfizer Vaccines to
use Televox automated calls and reminder cards for
immunization from present 12-18 month olds to all
children in PCHP under age 5
 Working on developing a similar partnership for
children over age 5 with another vaccine manufacturer
PCHP Response: Adult Cocooning
 The issue – many parents of PCHP members are
uninsured
 Possible response – provide vaccine vouchers to
parents of PCHP members
 Barrier – Rules on use of Medicaid funds for non
members
 PCHP is exploring this strategy further
Contact Information
For further information contact
Barry S. Lachman, MD, MPH,
Medical Director PCHP
[email protected]
214-266-2104