Friday, February 17, 2017

Childhood Immunization Champion Award


Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond on childhood vaccinations? You can considering nominating him or her for the Florida Childhood Immunization Champion Award Program.  

Please note the deadline for submitting the form is Friday, February 17, 2017.  

2017 Florida Childhood Immunization Champion Award Program

The Florida Department of Health Immunization Section on behalf of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation is proud to announce the sixth Annual Childhood Immunization Champion Award Program. The award honors individuals who are doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster childhood immunizations in their communities. Award recipients for 2017 will be announced during National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), April 22-29, 2017.

Award Criteria

Champions can include coalition members, parents, health care professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, etc.), and other immunization leaders who meet the award criteria. State immunization program managers, state and federal government employees of health agencies, individuals who have been affiliated with and/or employed by pharmaceutical companies, and those who have already received the award are not eligible to apply.

When nominating and selecting a Champion, immunization programs should base their nominations on meeting one or more of the following criteria:

  • Leadership: The candidate is considered an authority on immunization in their community, medical system, or individual practice. Activities may include acting as a spokesperson, trainer, mentor, or educator.
  • Collaboration: The candidate has worked to build support for and increase immunization rates in infants and young children. Activities may include establishing or strengthening partnerships, coalitions, committees, working groups, or other.
  • Innovation: The candidate has used creative or innovative strategies to promote immunization or address challenges to immunization in their practice, community, state, or region. Activities may include either new strategies or adapting existing strategies in new ways such as for reaching under-immunized populations.  

  • Advocacy: The candidate is active in advancing policies and best practices to support immunization in infants and young children in their community, state, or region. Activities may include providing legislative testimony or promoting, analyzing, or evaluating policies. 

Eligibility information and nominating forms have been attached for your convenience.

Please submit ALL nomination packets to Dearline Thomas-Brown, MPH, BSN, RN, Executive Community Health Nursing Director, Florida Department of Health, Immunization Section at Dearline.Thomas-Brown@flhealth.gov, by February 17, 2017 (extended).

Please distribute this important information to colleagues, members, coalitions, and partners who provide or have an interest in immunizations. Please place this information prominently on your website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dearline Thomas-Brown, MPH, BSN, RN, Executive Community Health Nursing Director, Florida Department of Health, Immunization Section at 850-245-4342, ext. 2384 or Dearline.Thomas-Brown@flhealth.gov.