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Keeping young children up to date with their vaccines

August 3, 2010 By Erin Leave a Comment

Keeping young children up to date with their vaccines. . . A significant public health concern, this is one of Southwestern AHEC’s primary program areas.  Under a contract with the State of CT Department of Public Health, Southwestern AHEC supports local pediatric and family practices in their efforts to make sure that children receive their vaccines according to the schedule recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.  Many of these vaccines are also required for day care, school and even college entry.

Southwestern AHEC staff members Joan Lane and Millie Seguinot are currently working with several pediatric groups that have requested “late lists” of their 2 year old patients who are not currently up to date with vaccines, according to the CT Immunization Registry and Tracking System (CIRTS).  Millie and Joan are pleased to be part of this very important effort to keep our community’s children protected from many preventable diseases.

CT DPH Immunization Program

Southwestern AHEC’s Immunization Team Receives Kudos from State!

May 5, 2010 By Joan Leave a Comment

Southwestern AHEC’s Immunization Action Plan team – Community Outreach Coordinator Millie Seguinot and Director of Programs Joan Lane – were recognized by the State of CT Department of Public Health  for having “improved both the Bridgeport immunization rate from 75% in 2008 to 77% in 2009″, and having increased “5% in their ability to find and update children in the city who were at risk for being under-immunized.”  The letter of commendation states: “This makes the Bridgeport IAP [Immunization Action Plan] program the most improved IAP area in the state.”

The current statistics are even more dramatic when measured against those in effect when Southwestern AHEC assumed responsibility for the Bridgeport immunization program in 2004.  At that time, the percentage of children up to date for their shots at age 24 months was just 63% (compared to 77% in 2009).

“Our success is possible because of the excellent collaboration we get from other local agencies, and the cooperation of Bridgeport’s pediatric and family practices,” according to Millie, who has lent her outreach expertise to the program since 2006.  “In particular, the WIC office [Women, Infants and Children program] is a critical part of the process of identifying the physicians of children ‘lost’ to the CT Immunization Registry and Tracking System.”

Southwestern AHEC’s Executive Director expressed her delight with the recognition, adding, “We look forward to continuing to work with the medical community to attain the State’s targeted 81% immunization rate for 2 year olds.”

Southwestern AHEC Honors Two Top-Performing Pediatric Offices

November 11, 2009 By Joan Leave a Comment

Two pediatric physicians groups in Bridgeport received honors from the CT Department of Public Health (CT DPH) this year for having at least 90% of their two year old patients up-to-date with the recommended schedule of childhood vaccines.

 Main Street Pediatrics and Optimus Health Care on East Main Street held the top spots this year among all pediatric and family practices based in Bridgeport. A framed Certificate of Recognition was presented to each practice by Joan Lane and Milagrosa Seguinot of Southwestern Area Health Education Center (AHEC), the local agency contracted as part of the CT Immunization Action Plan Program. Joan and Millie work with local medical offices to ensure that children are enrolled in the CT Immunization Registry and Tracking System (CIRTS). CIRTS helps doctors and families maintain updated, comprehensive vaccine records for enrolled children. These records are invaluable when children enter day care or school, change pediatricians, or move out of state.

“We are delighted to receive this recognition for our vaccination efforts,” said Dr. Umanga Dawlaga, Director of Pediatrics at Optimus Health Care, a federally qualified health center with offices in Bridgeport, Stratford and Stamford. This was echoed by Drs. Sarah and Roy Schutzengel of Main Street Pediatrics, whose practice has had up-to-date rates of greater than 90% for 3 consecutive years.

Southwestern AHEC, a non-profit agency based in Trumbull, works to improve access to quality primary and preventive healthcare in southwestern CT by connecting students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.

 

Optimus Health Care's East Main Street Pediatrics Team receives vaccine honors.

Optimus Health Care's East Main Street Pediatrics Team receives vaccine honors.