Alabama clinic recognized for success in immunizing adolescents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Burnestine Taylor, M.D.
(334) 206-5325

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Immunization Division, congratulates Pediatric Associates of Kellyton, which is part of Pediatric Associates in Alexander City, for being the first practice in the state to exceed the Healthy People 2020 adolescent immunization rate of 80 percent.

The adolescent vaccines include Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap), Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Meningococcal (MCV) vaccine. According to the state immunization registry, ImmPRINT, Pediatric Associates of Kellyton increased its HPV completion vaccine rate the past two years to 83 percent to reach this achievement, while maintaining its high MCV vaccine rate of 84 percent and excellent Tdap vaccination rate of 99.7 percent.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the National Immunization Survey, and the vaccine coverage rate for Alabama’s 13- through 17-year-olds rose to 40 percent. The Healthy People 2020 goal is 80 percent for all adolescents. CDC also released the report, Trends in HPV-Associated Cancer, and unfortunately, HPV cancers are increasing and not decreasing. HPV vaccine prevents HPV cancers for both boys and girls.

"Our goal is to have all pediatric clinics and health providers obtain 80 percent or higher coverage rates to protect adolescents from vaccine-preventable diseases and cancers. Currently, HPV vaccine is the most underutilized cancer-prevention vaccine with the biggest impact compared to all other vaccine-preventable disease vaccines," stated Dr. Burnestine Taylor, medical officer, Disease Control and Prevention, ADPH.

The clinical staff of Pediatric Associates of Kellyton largely attributes its adolescent immunization success rates to effectively implementing the following quality improvement strategies:

• Giving HPV, MCV and Tdap at each visit
• Following the Vaccines for Children program's recommendations
• Utilizing ImmPRINT, the statewide immunization registry, as a reference for upcoming vaccinations as well as tracking patient visit data

"It is wonderful to see a practice engaged from the front office staff to the back in the vaccination process. The providers’ staffs need to be educated to respond to parents’ questions about vaccines," stated Dr. Taylor. “It makes a real difference to the health of children and adolescents.”

For more information about immunization in Alabama, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization/index.html.