Innovative Methods to Promote Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The Baltimore County Department of Health has been recognized both locally and nationally for its innovative methods for encouraging vaccination against the H1N1 influenza virus. Fortunately, the seasonal flu, including H1N1, was not widely circulating within the community this past fall and winter. Without the resources provided during the 2009-2010 H1N1 flu pandemic, the county’s local health department was challenged this year with encouraging the public to continue their awareness of the dangers of the flu vaccinations in new locations, and delivering it directly to the population would increase the County’ vaccinated population. The seasonal flu planning committee brainstormed ideas that included working with individuals that were “captive” and for getting to some of the hard to reach and targeted populations. It was determined that working with the County’s Jury Commissioner to vaccinate jury candidates, providing a clinic at a non-profit organization in the community that serves low-income families without health insurance, and reaching out to individuals waiting in line for benefits at the local Department of Social Services would provide the county with the opportunities to vaccinate more residents.