Mission
The mission of the Los Angeles County Immunization
Program is to improve immunization coverage levels and
prevent the occurrence of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).
Immunization Program efforts are targeted primarily
toward pediatric and adolescent immunizations with some
adult immunization activities. Although the Immunization
Program serves the entire County population, many
activities are specifically directed toward communities
with children at high risk of under-immunization. The
Immunization Program partners with other organizations
to provide outreach and immunization services in pockets
of need areas which are defined as areas with large
numbers of unimmunized and underimmunized children.
The Immunization Program has contracts with community
clinics, community-based organizations, and WIC agencies
for pediatric immunization services. Through the DHS
facilities, contract providers, and County Vaccines for
Children (VFC) providers, the Immunization Program
distributed over 740,000 doses of State-supplied vaccine
to more than 150 health care providers and school-based
clinics in 1998.
The Immunization Program distributes to non-profit
agencies vaccines to prevent the following diseases:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Polio
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Varicella
- Influenza
- Pneumococcal
Activities
- Surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases
- Coordinate the investigation of selected reportable suspected and confirmed VPD cases
- Analyze surveillance data to monitor VPD trends
- VPD outbreak investigation and control
- Monitor VPD incidence to identify increases above threshold levels
- Coordinate the investigation of selected VPD outbreaks and recommend control measures
- Perinatal hepatitis B case management
- Conduct active surveillance and provide case management for cases and their contacts
- Immunization coverage assessments
- Conduct Fall Assessment - Assessment of all children entering public or private kindergartens and preschools to estimate vaccine coverage levels at the time of entry
- Conduct Selective Review - Assessment of a sample of children in public and private kindergartens and preschools
- Conduct Licensed Family Child Care Homes assessments - Similar to the Fall Assessment and Selective Review
- Conduct clinic record audits - Audits of medical records at DHS facilities and contract agencies using Clinic Assessment Software Application
(CASA) to evaluate coverage levels delivery
- Professional education and training
- Coordinate live and satellite continuing medical education programs
- Provide inservices and trainings in DHS and
private provider sites
- Monitor DHS and contract agency immunization
practices through Quality Assurance Reviews (QAR)
and CASA
- Conduct office visits and modified QAR and CASA at
VFC provider sites
- Distribute ACIP recommendations and State and
local practice policies and guidelines to all
immunization providers through direct mail and the
Immunization Program quarterly newsletter
- Community outreach and education
- Develop, implement, and/or participate in
countywide promotional activities during National
Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) and Toddler
Immunization Month (TIM)
- Conduct focused immunization marketing and
promotion campaigns using billboards, wall displays,
bus posters, radio, television, and other media
venues
- Identify and/or develop culturally and
linguistically appropriate immunization education
materials
- Provide targeted community outreach and education
in communities with the lowest immunization coverage
levels
- Establish and/or maintain partnerships with
child health advocates and organizations
- Contract with WIC agencies to conduct immunization
assessment and referral with WIC clients
- Collaborate with DPSS to conduct immunization
assessment and referral with CalWORKs recipients.
- Vaccine management and distribution
- Manage County VFC program which provides free
vaccine to public and non-profit health care
providers including DHS, community and free clinics,
schools and universities, and Head Start centers,
among others
- Provide vaccine distribution, inventory, ordering,
handling, and storage.
- Assuring delivery of immunization services
- Assure free walk-in immunization services in DHS
facilities
- Maintain participation of over 1,000 VFC providers
countywide who provide free or low-cost immunization
services
- Contract with non-profit community health centers
to provide free immunization services
- Immunization registry development
- Design, implement, and administer a computerized
immunization registry and tracking system that is
accessible to public and private health care
providers
- Health services research
- Initiate and/or participate in research designed
to 1) improve immunization practice, 2) improve
access to immunization services, 3) identify
under-immunized communities and populations, 4)
determine effective interventions, and 5) estimate
vaccination coverage
- Immunization Roundtable
- Countywide coalition for immunization outreach
efforts
- Collaboration of over 60 public and private sector
agencies
- Other special projects
- Promotoras de Vacunacion - Provide immunization
education, referral, and case management using
community members as lay health promoters
Goals
- Increase to 80% the proportion of children
completely vaccinated at 24 months of age with the
series of 4 DTP, 3 polio, 1 MMR, and 3 Hib
- Increase to 70% the proportion of children
vaccinated at 24 months of age with the series of 3
hepatitis B
- Maintain the zero incidence of indigenous wild
polio and diphtheria
- Maintain the incidence rates of indigenous
measles, rubella, and tetanus at less than
0.5/100,000
- Decrease the incidence rate of pertussis to less
than 1.0/100,000
- Decrease the incidence of Haemophilus influenzae
type b to less than 0.5/100,000
