Public Health Region 11 Immunization Program
Vision Statement:
Our Immunization team, working with private and public agencies as well as community organizations, using innovative promotion techniques and expert quality assurance monitoring, protects the health of our public by maintaining very low disease rates and achieving the highest immunization levels in the state and nation.
Purpose:
The mission of the Immunization Program is to improve the quality and longevity of life for the people of Public Health Region 11 by achieving and maintaining a vaccine-preventable disease free environment.
The Childhood Immunization Initiative of 1994 made immunizations of preschool children one of the nation’s main health priorities. The Immunization Program of the Department of State Health Services works toward this initiative by working to eliminate indigenous cases of Diphtheria, Polio, Rubella, Measles, Tetanus, and Haemophilus Influenzae. Also, part of the Childhood Immunization Initiative is to increase vaccination coverage levels to at least 90% among two year-old children. Working toward these goals as well as increasing the protection levels of adults, the Immunization Program strives to accomplish these objectives:
- Improve the quality of vaccination delivery services
- Increase community participation, education and partnerships
- Reduce missed opportunities to vaccinate as well as eliminate barriers to immunizations.
- Increase the number of private providers
Activities:
- Recruit physicians into the Texas Vaccines for Children Program
- Promote the use of the state registry ImmTrac2
- Increase participation of stakeholders throughout Public Health Region 11
- Conduct educational trainings for medical professionals
- Increase public awareness through meetings, radio, and television
- Conduct investigations on reports of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases
- Identify barriers and implement activities to improve immunization rates
Program Manager:
Mauro Ruiz