New Texas Study Urges Innovative Immunization Strategies For Adolescents

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 06 Apr 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Adolescents need vaccinations, just like children. Unfortunately, misinformation and missed opportunities keep these kids from being properly immunized. A new study by a Houston physician calls for the need for more inventive ways to ensure adolescents are receiving adequate preventive health care.

Study author Amy B. Middleman, MD, MSEd, MPH, with the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research, said, "Adolescents and young adults are not simply 'older children,' so strategies to immunize them cannot be the same as for children."

The study, presented late last month at a national immunization conference, reports many children still receive shots in their doctor's office, but shows more kids could be vaccinated by implementing a multipronged approach. School-based clinics, especially for families that are non-English speaking, are among the strategies.

"A 'one size fits all' approach will not work," said Dr. Middleman, who is an expert advisor for Texas Medical Association's (TMA's) Be Wise - ImmunizeSM program. "We will need to consider multiple delivery strategies, including school-based immunization programs, to assure success with immunizing this age group," she said.

These findings come just after the state has issued new immunization requirements for students, including new vaccinations for adolescents, which begin phase-in this fall. The Texas Legislature also is considering legislation calling for a study on the effectiveness of school-based flu shot clinics.

TMA's Be Wise - Immunize program, which began in 2004, is dedicated to making physicians aware of and helping them take advantage of opportunities in their offices to vaccinate adolescents. Dr. Middleman, an expert on adolescent immunizations, was instrumental in the development of an adolescent immunization toolkit for physicians, which was funded in part by a grant from Texas Children's Hospital.

The Be Wise program also works to educate parents about the importance of vaccinations for children and adolescents. In addition, the program aims to increase access to immunizations by reaching underserved populations with free or low-cost vaccination clinics.

Eight Houston-area middle schools participated in the study. Surveys were distributed to all students at the schools (7,300), with 1,838, or 25 percent, returned.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Source
Texas Medical Association