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Immunization Resource Center

Be Wise -- Immunize PowerPoint presentation

• Be Wise — Immunize^SM
• Immunization Schedules/Standards
• News Alerts
• TMA Health Tips
• Statistics/Reports/Articles
• Conscientious Objection Law
• Vaccine Safety
• Physician Tools
• International Travelers Immunization Resources
• Related Immunization Web sites

Be Wise — Immunize

Be Wise — Immunize is one of the most ambitious public health programs in the Texas Medical Association’s 151-year history. The purpose of this joint initiative of TMA and the TMA Alliance, funded through a grant from the TMA Foundation, is to substantially increase statewide immunization rates. Using education, communication, and action, Be Wise — Immunize is three-year program that promotes immunization to the public as important, effective, and safe.

Physicians can participate in Be Wise — Immunize by adopting best practices, using the ImmTrac Vaccine Registry, joining the Texas Vaccines for Children program, implementing an immunization reminder/recall system, and employing TMA’s many free Be Wise — Immunize educational and support materials. TMA also encourages member physicians to become spokespeople and advocates for immunization in their communities by joining the Be Wise — Immunize I’m Wise panel.

The TMA Alliance provides grassroots ground support for the program, spearheading Be Wise — Immunize efforts in communities across Texas. These include organizing free immunization clinics, creating public awareness of the need for immunization through presentations to PTA and civic organizations, and getting the word out through the local media. TMA provides air cover with statewide media campaigns and support materials.

For more information, contact the Be Wise — Immunize Be Wise coordinator via e-mail Be Wise Coordinator or call (512) 370-1470.

Be Wise – Immunize Field Manual

Click here to download Be Wise – Immunize PowerPoint presentation

I'm Wise Panel

Reminder/Recall Project

Be Wise — Immunize is a service mark of Texas Medical Association.

Immunization Schedules/Standards

• Vaccines Needed by Teens and College Students
• Recommended Immunization Schedules for Persons Aged 0--18 Years --- United States, 2008 (MMWR, January 11, 2008)
• Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule -- United States, 2006 (MMWR, Jan. 6, 2006)
• 2004 Childhood & Adolescent Immunization Schedule - CDC
• Immunization During Pregnancy (PDF)
• Revised Standards for Adult Immunization Practices (PDF, December 2003)
• Standards for Child and Adolescent Immunization Practices (December 2003)
• Vaccines for Children Program
• ImmTrac, the Texas-wide child immunization database

News Alerts

• State Changes Immunization Rules (Action, March 16, 2009)
• Feds Change VFC Storage Rules - Action (Aug. 18, 2008)
• The Race for the Vaccine - Action (March 17, 2008)
• Texas Physicians Urge Parents to Vaccinate Adolescents Against Meningitis (Feb. 12, 2008)
• TMA Physicians Blast ABC-TV Program as “Irresponsible”
• CDC Key Messages for Responding to Inquiries Generated by the Fictional Television Show “Eli Stone” Airing on ABC Jan. 31
• The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Express Concerns to President of Disney-ABC Regarding "Eli Stone" (PDF)  
• Timeline: Thimerosal in Vaccines (1999-2008) (Jan. 31, 2008)
• Historical Comparisons of Morbidity and Mortality for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the United States (JAMA)
• Texas Vaccines for Children Program: Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine Expanded Recommendations (PDF - October 2007)
• Texas’ Immunization Rate Drop Concerns TMA Physicians (Sept. 10, 2007)
• Memo: Texas Vaccines for Children Program: Measles/Mumps/Rubella/Caricella (MMRV) Vaccine No Longer Available (PDF - May 2007)
• "Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)" (MMWR, June 28, 2006)
• A New Vaccine for Pertussis May Prove to be Helpful in Adolescents and Adults (NEJM, October 2005)
• Immunization Requirements Relaxed for Students Displaced by Hurricane Katrina (DSHA, Aug. 31, 2005)
• Impact of Varicella Vaccination on Health Care Utilization (JAMA, August 2005) 
• Texas Legislature Expands Childhood Vaccine Program (Action, July 2005)
• Texas Department of Health immunization-related advisories
• Itchy Bumps? Breakthrough Pox Might Be Cause, Texas Medicine Reports (July 23, 2004)
• "Notice to Readers: FDA Licensure of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed, Hepatitis B (Recombinant), and Poliovirus Vaccine Combined, (PEDIARIX™) for Use in Infants," (MMWR, March 14, 2003)
• "Notice to Readers: Facilitating Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Through Standing Orders Programs," (MMWR, Jan. 31, 2003)
• CDC'S Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Votes on Recommendations for the use of Pediarix Vaccine (IAC Express, March 3, 2003)
• FDA Approves Preservative-Free Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed (DT) for Pediatric Use (April 2003)
• Current Vaccine Delays and Shortages (CDC)
• Immunization During Pregnancy

TMA Health Tips

• Protect Your Child With Immunizations
• Immunizations: They Aren't Just for Children
• Should Your Child Get the Chickenpox Vaccine?

Statistics/Reports/Articles

• National, State, and Urban Area Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19-35 Months-United States, 2005 (MMWR, Sept. 15, 2006)
• QuickStats: Number of Vaccine Doses Provided or Prescribed for Patients (MMWR, January 2006)
• Amendment to DSHS Immunization Rules
• Closing the Gap: A Shot in the Arm for Childhood Immunization Programs (PDF)
• TMA Immunization Policy Paper
• Guide to Contraindications to Vaccination (PDF)
• IOM Report: Financing Vaccines in the 21st Century: Assuring Access and Availability
• Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates in Health Care Workers (PDF)
• Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report
• What Would Happen If We Stopped Vaccinations?
• Myth vs Reality: Vaccines and Vaccine Safety - in English and Spanish (PDF)
• Take Your Best Shot: TMA, Specialty Societies Launch Efforts To Boost Vaccinations (Texas Medicine, March 2003) 
• Association Between Thimerosal-Containing Vaccine and Autism (JAMA, Oct. 1, 2003)
• Texas Immunization Survey (TIS) Immunization Division (DSHS)

Conscientious Objection Law

• TMA Testimony to Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on Immunization Requirements. (March 2004)
• Arguments Against Conscientious Objections for Exemption from Immunization (August 2003)

Vaccine Safety

• Vaccine-Autism Nexus Denied (Newsday.com, Oct. 19, 2005)
• Vaccine Safety: Thimerosal and Autism (DSHS, June 2005)
• The Reporter: Vaccine Liability and No-Fault Compensation (PDF ) 
• Addressing Parents' Concerns: Do Vaccines Cause Allergic or Autoimmune Diseases? (The American Academy of Pediatrics, April 2003)
• Association Between Thimerosal-Containing Vaccine and Autism (JAMA, Oct. 1, 2003)
• CDC - Vaccine Safety Issues of Interest
• CDC - Vaccine Side Effects
• Common Concerns about Vaccines and Vaccines Safety
• Immunization Safety Review: Influenza Vaccines and Neurological Complications (National Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, Oct. 6, 2003)
• Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism Report
• Myth vs Reality: Vaccines and Vaccine Safety   - in English and Spanish (PDF)
• The Promise of Vaccines: The Science and the Controversy
• "What if you Don't Immunize Your Child?" Brochure can Help Convince Hesitant Parents to Choose Vaccination (PDF)
• What's the Story? Childhood Immunizations (American Council on Science and Health)
• Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Study: Safety of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines (CDC)
• Vaccinations: What Parents Need to Know (Prepared for the American Council on Science and Health by Kathleen Meister, M.D.)

Tools

• Adult Immunization Quiz: What Vaccines Do You Need? (CDC Web site, July 2006)
• • AMA Primer Aims to Help Physicians Improve Immunization Rates (AMA Web site, June 2005)
  • Roadmaps for Clinical Practice series - Improving Immunization: Addressing Racial and Ethnic Populations (AMA Web site, June 2005)
• Boost Your Clinic's Immunization Rate--IAC's Adult Immunization Record Cards Prompt Patients to Keep Immunization up to Date (March 3, 2003)
• Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases - 4 Part Series (CDC satellite broadcast series on vaccine preventable diseases)
• Immunization Crisis in Texas    (PowerPoint, August 2003)
• Immunization resources from The Group on Immunization Education of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine: A direct link to the downloadable file may be found at: http://www.immunizationed.org/  
• Download the schedule into your Palm Handheld 
  Note: This is freeware software and is to be used at your own risk.
• ImmTrac, the Texas-wide child immunization database
• Instant Immunization Schedule for Children 5 Years Old and Younger  - CDC
• National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
• Reminder/Recall Project
• VaccineCheck: A unique feature of VaccineCheck is an interactive program that lets health professionals and parents create an instant, printable immunization schedule for any child or adolescent up to age 21. The goal of the program is to make vaccine scheduling an easier, more exact process.
• Vaccines for Children Program
• Vaccine Information Statements (VIS)  (CDC)

International Traveler Immunization Resources  (outside links)

• American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Immunization Action Coalition
• International Society of Travel Medicine
• Pan American Health Organization
• Texas Department of Health Immunization Web site
• The Group on Immunization Education of the Society of Teachers of Family Physicians
• Vaccine Check
• World Health Organization

Related Immunization Web Sites

• American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization
• American Association of Health Plans: The Online Manual of Strategies to Promote Adult Immunization
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Care Van
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Immunization Program
• Community Guide
• Every Child by Two
• Frequently Asked Questions on Childhood Vaccines
• Immunization Action Coalition
• ImmunizationEd.org: The Group on Immunization Education of The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
• National Coalition for Adult Immunizations
• National Immunization Program
• National Network for Immunization Information
• National Partnership for Immunization
• National Vaccine Program Office
• Polio Eradication
• The Group on Immunization Education of the Society of Teachers of Family Physicians
• The Vaccine Education Center Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• The Vaccine Page
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• World Health Organization Immunization Safety

Last Published: 5/13/2009