TMA's Be Wise — Immunize program offers two toolkits to help physicians provide the best vaccination care to their young and adolescent patients. TMA recently updated the Physician Manual for Children [PDF] and the Physician Manual for Adolescents [PDF]. Both toolkits are free for TMA members.
"Think of these as playbooks for physician quarterbacks leading their clinic teams in 'a red zone' offense against vaccine-preventable diseases," said Edward J. Sherwood, MD, of Round Rock, an infectious disease specialist and member of TMA's Be Wise — Immunize physician advisory panel.
The comprehensive immunization toolkits contain manuals for physicians and educational materials for patients. The physician manuals highlight:
- Best practices for improving vaccination rates;
- Talking to parents about vaccinations (including safety and importance);
- How to use ImmTrac (the Texas Immunization Registry); and
- Free fact sheets, office posters, and other patient education materials.
To order the toolkits, contact Tammy Wishard, TMA's outreach coordinator, at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1470, or (512) 370-1470, or email the TMA Outreach Coordinator.
TMA physicians launched Be Wise — Immunize in 2004 to boost Texas' immunization rates. To date, the program has administered more than 199,000 shots to Texas children.
Be Wise — Immunize is a joint initiative led by TMA physicians and the TMA Alliance. Funding for Be Wise — Immunize comes from the TMA Foundation, thanks to generous support from HEB, the TMF Health Quality Institute, and gifts from physicians and their families.
Be Wise — Immunize is a service mark of the Texas Medical Association.
Action, Sept. 16, 2011