Public Health Practices

Oregon’s "Taking H1N1 Vaccination to Vulnerable Populations" pilot project utilized nontraditional vaccinators, specifically paramedics affiliated with local ambulance services, as a strategy to improve influenza vaccination rates among homebound seniors and people with disabilities. Collaboration between local health departments, community-based organizations, and emergency medical service agencies provided flu vaccine to homebound individuals during a five-county pilot project in Oregon.

Employees with limited or no English skills who work with swine or birds in rural agricultural areas may have little knowledge about influenza if they lack access to in-language educational programs. The Minnesota Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance developed a train-the-trainer program to address such a need. Training materials cover practical, basic knowledge about influenza detection, prevention, and control in people, birds, and swine.

The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic prompted the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to design an innovative process to help planners determine which languages to translate and how many resources to print in other languages.

An emergency preparedness presentation that occurred in Waupaca Wisconsin in January 2009 revealed an unexpected concern among regional residents: infection control at faith-based organizations. This topic caught the attention of the local public health nurse who hosted the presentation. As a result, a volunteer subcommittee was formed to address the concern.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) conducted multicultural outreach to a wide range of communities just as their H1N1 vaccination campaign was underway. Health department planners used research on previous vaccination rates among various populations in Ohio to create targeted media and outreach efforts specifically among African-American and Hispanic populations.