Southern Wisconsin Immunization Consortium
RWHC is committed to work with others in rural Wisconsin to improve the rate of childhood immunizations through the newly formed Southern Wisconsin Immunization Consortium.
In cooperation with Dean Health Plan (DHP) and Unity Health Insurance, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) staff identified a particular low childhood immunization rate for Dean and Unity enrollees in rural southern Wisconsin. A task force of RWHC members and the health plans has vetted both the measures and numbers and found them to be credible.
Health plan data showed that for 2008 the combined Childhood Immunization Status rate for children age two in urban Dane County was 81% and the average in the rural counties* studied was 63%. The average rural on-time immunization rate using county health department data showed similar results. These rates were measured using specifications outlined by the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS). Rates in all counties were well below the 90th percentile–the frequently cited national Healthy People 2010 target.
The above data is unfortunately consistent with The Health of Wisconsin Report Card 2010 was released on March 23rd. Wisconsin’s grade for overall health is good compared to the other states in the nation—a “B-.” But Wisconsin receives a barely passing grade of D for its efforts to promote health for rural children and young adults.
RWHC asked primary care physicians, clinics, schools and public health departments for their assistance in identifying ideas to close the identified gap in childhood immunizations.
The suggestion came back to from county public health directors to form a multi-county consortium to work together across the multiple sectors to achieve higher immunization rates, particular for children. The collaboration is now known as the Southern Wisconsin Immunization Consortium (SWIC).
Support to develop SWIC has been received for two years from the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute Fellowship Program through support for a 0.5 FTE MPH Fellow as well as financial support from Dean and Unity Health Plans; support is pending from the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.
More to follow re the above, in the meantime we will use this page to share resources as the early development continues; recommendations welcomed. Please send to swicoffice@rwhc.com.
The following is a general list of resources about immunizations, including Wisconsin- specific resources. This is list is not exhaustive, and will be added to periodically:
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization Research Database
CDC Immunization Schedule
CDC Vaccines Home
CDC Vaccines Safety Page
Dane County Immunization 2011 Update Materials:
- "Dr. Conway's Presentation at the 2011 Dane County Immunization Update" (PPT)
- "Vaccine Update from 2011 Dane County Immunization Update" (PPT)
- "Video from 2011 Dane County Immunization Update" (Link to Video)
Immunization Action Coalition (IAC)
"National and State Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19--35 Months --- United States, 2010"
"Problem Solving for Immunization Programs," from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health OpenCourseWare Project
WebMD Health News: Researcher Predicts Continued Increase, Risk of Disease Outbreaks" by Kathleen Doheny (Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD)
Wisconsin Immunization Program
Wisconsin Immunization Registry
World Health Organization: Immunization
World Health Organization: Immunization Fact Sheets