Be Wise — Immunize

A recent survey of TMA members shows vaccine-preventable diseases are high on the list of causes they want to support in their personal outreach. TMA’s Be Wise – Immunize program is making changes that will provide more opportunities for member involvement and outreach.

Six children in Texas have died of flu-related illness since the season started at the end of September, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said last week. Four were not vaccinated for the current season, and health officials are still gathering information on the other deaths.

“What continues to amaze me is that people are really not educated about [vaccines],” said Trish Perl, MD, chief of the infectious diseases division at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “Some of [vaccine hesitancy] has been propagated by the anti-vaxxers, but some of it is just frankly not knowing.”

Thanks to the success of vaccines, some diseases are long forgotten, like polio and diphtheria. As a result, patients and physicians may not know how these diseases look and the ravages they can cause. TMA has resources that can equip you to talk to your patients and help them better understand vaccine-preventable childhood and adult diseases.

Although an anti-vaccine movement has continued to grow in Texas, the vast majority of voters support requiring vaccinations for Texas children. A poll released in Texas earlier this year was the third public opinion survey with similar findings.

Be Wise — Immunize is a public health initiative of TMA. The program works with physicians, medical students, and TMA Alliance members to improve vaccination rates in Texas through education and hands-on immunization clinics.

Be Wise — Immunize keeps you up to date on vaccinations and helps you improve your vaccination practices.
 

TMA has the tools you need to plan, organize, and carry out a vaccination event. Or, if you want to staff a booth at your community health fair, we have free materials to educate that vaccinations are important, safe, and effective. Plus, our free merchandise for kids and Beatrice the Bee mascot make your event more fun.

Be Wise — Immunize offers Local Impact Grants to assist you in funding a local vaccination event. Grants of up to $2,500 are available to county medical societies (CMSs), TMA Alliance chapters, medical student chapters, and TMA member-physician practices/clinics.