Thanks to FPHS Immunization Outreach and FPHS Reinforcing Capacity funds, Spokane’s Immunization Assessment & Promotion (IAP) team was able to implement two successful vaccine campaigns, create community-specific resources, provide educational opportunities for vaccine advocates, develop and maintain partnerships, and provide access to vaccines for uninsured adults.
Thanks to FPHS Immunization Outreach and FPHS Reinforcing Capacity funds, the Immunization Assessment & Promotion (IAP) team was able to implement two successful vaccine campaigns, create community-specific resources, provide educational opportunities for vaccine advocates, develop and maintain partnerships, and provide access to vaccines for uninsured adults. Consistent FPHS funding has been critical to ensure the IAP program has adequate staffing to carry out many activities in Spokane County.
We coordinated and collaborated with mobile providers to implement a strategic approach to bring vaccine services to communities who would otherwise not have the means or ability. This group expanded to include people experiencing homelessness, and events targeted towards priority communities. We collaborated internally with our communications team, and an external partner, to conduct campaigns for back-to-school and respiratory season vaccines. These campaigns stretched across social media, in-app ads, online displays, and billboards. Together, they resulted in 1.5 million impressions digitally, and the billboards had an average of 1.1 million weekly impressions. Additional education, outreach, and promotional activities included earned media slots promoting residents to “get up-to-date with their vaccines,” periodic newsletters to over 1,200 subscribers, presentations, and resource development.
Additionally, our team coordinated and facilitated 66 community clinics where 581 people received 1,324 vaccines. We hosted an in-person documentary screening of “Shot in the Arm” for vaccine providers, advocates, and health professionals. The film addressed the rise in mis- and dis-information surrounding vaccines and the impact the pandemic had on COVID and routine vaccine uptake. The event concluded with a panel of experts who shared strategies to combat inaccurate information and build trust with vaccine-hesitant families and communities. It was a great opportunity to connect with providers and advocates to discuss barriers in various settings and share some strategies to overcome them.
We were able to participate in and support the formation of a local mobile vaccine provider network in Spokane and surrounding counties. This effort was led by an Aging & Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington partner, who received a grant to reduce barriers to vaccination services for our elderly residents and those experiencing developmental issues. Our team also cross-collaborated with our Health Equity program to develop culturally responsive educational and informative vaccine resources to address specific concerns and beliefs of diverse communities. We ensured that the resources would be understandable at any reading level with pictures and had them translated into multiple languages. These resources help us communicate trusted and accurate vaccine safety information.
Consistent FPHS funding has been critical to ensure our Immunization Assessment & Promotion (IAP) program has adequate staffing to carry out many activities in Spokane County.
FPHS exists everywhere in Washington in order to serve everyone in Washington. Check out some of these other FPHS stories to learn about some of the other places or paths for FPHS delivery.
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