2024 Spring Conference Wrap Up

Immunization Intersections:
Bridging Gaps, Building Trust, and Boosting Health

A Thank You
from the IMWI Team

In the afterglow of the momentous Immunize Wisconsin 2024 Spring Conference, we are compelled to pause and extend our deepest gratitude to the myriads of individuals and organizations whose collective brilliance illuminated this event. Your engagement and insights have not only enriched our conference but have also paved the way for a future replete with innovation and shared success. Thank you to every person who attended and made this conference possible! We are already looking forward to 2025!

The 2024 Immunization Champion Awards

Highlighting Individual and Organizational Excellence in Immunization Innovation

At IMWICON2024, we had the pleasure of announcing this year’s Immunization Champion award winners! These awards include:

The Individual Excellence in Immunization Award

recognizing healthcare professionals, educators, coalition members, and/or policy leaders that have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to improving immunization rates and awareness in Wisconsin.

The Outstanding Organization in Immunization Award

recognizing healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and/or nonprofits who have demonstrated exemplary performance or innovation in promoting and administering immunizations in Wisconsin.

Meet Our 2024

Immunization Champions!

Dr. Ryan Bender, PharmD, Forward Pharmacy

Ryan Bender serves as the Director of Clinical Services at Forward Pharmacy and has been a community pharmacist for nearly 15 years. His responsibilities include crafting the policies and procedures for vaccine administration and training pharmacists in these protocols.

READ FULL BIO

Dr. Bender ensures his colleagues are informed about the latest recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is responsible for developing vaccine usage recommendations in the United States. He also keeps abreast of the CDC’s guidelines for vaccine storage and handling, oversees the CPR certification and immunization course completion for pharmacists who administer vaccines, and develops policies for the safe handling and disposal of sharps in compliance with OSHA guidelines, as well as procedures for managing emergency vaccine reactions.

Dr. Bender has personally immunized thousands of patients, targeting diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis, whooping cough, and HPV.

Forward Pharmacy endorses SB 110, legislation that would permit pharmacists with additional training to immunize patients under six years of age with an individual prescription.

Community pharmacists are embedded within communities, accessible in areas both with and without clinics or hospitals. Their extended hours in the evenings and weekends, along with the presence of pharmacies in nearly every county, enhance access for individuals who might not easily reach a clinic. Regular interactions with patients, more frequent than those in clinical settings, offer pharmacists additional opportunities to vaccinate or educate those hesitant about immunizations, especially vital in an era rife with misinformation.

Pharmacists are well-qualified to administer vaccines, having completed a rigorous Doctor of Pharmacy program, a four-year degree following at least two years of pre-pharmacy coursework. Their education covers chemistry, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology and pharmacotherapy, and immunology. Currently trained to vaccinate patients aged six and older, pharmacists welcome further training that would enable them to protect even younger patients against vaccine-preventable diseases. SB 110 represents an opportunity to extend these essential services to patients of all ages.

The Iowa County Health Department

The Iowa County Health Department (ICHD) employs a total of six full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, including three FTE nurses who successfully administered 1,195 vaccines in 2023. In a significant development, the ICHD established a partnership with the Community Connections Free Clinic to provide vaccinations to uninsured patients from surrounding counties, a service previously unavailable at the free clinic. Additionally, the department extended its vaccination services to the local food pantry, offering vaccines on select days.

READ FULL BIO

In an effort to broaden immunization coverage, the ICHD conducted visits to all schools within Iowa County, administering tetanus and influenza vaccines to both staff and students, with billing procedures in place for staff receiving the influenza vaccine.

A comprehensive strategy to increase vaccination rates and raise awareness about the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) and Vaccines for Children (VFC) programs has been a priority. This strategy encompasses a variety of outreach efforts, including direct mail, phone calls, and the engagement of trusted community members to connect with targeted groups. Furthermore, the ICHD has invested in a range of advertising methods, such as billboards, radio and newspaper ads, and social media campaigns, in addition to organizing more mobile clinics, fostering new partnerships, and emphasizing equity to lower vaccination barriers.

The department has taken the lead in convening community vaccine stakeholder meetings to identify and address any gaps in vaccine accessibility within Iowa County. It has also been instrumental in forming and maintaining crucial partnerships with various local entities, including the free clinic, hospital, clinics, pharmacies, and multicultural outreach and support programs like the SUN program, Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), and the food pantry, among others.

2024 Conference Silver Tier Sponsors

In a constellation of supporters, our Silver Tier Sponsors shine with particular distinction. Your commitment has been a cornerstone of our collective achievement, and we wish to honor this partnership with the prominence it deserves. Here, we not only recognize you by name but also celebrate the spirit of your invaluable support.

2024 Conference Exhibitors, Sponsors, and Partnering Organizations

Our exhibitors, with their diverse innovations and pioneering solutions, have been the lifeblood of Immunize Wisconsin’s 2024 Spring Conference Immunization Intersections: Bridging Gaps, Building Trust, and Boosting Health. Your contributions have not only captivated our audience but have also sparked the kind of dialogue and partnership that drives our industry forward. We extend our sincere thanks to: