Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to today’s webinar hosted by Patagonia Health. Today’s topic is tips and resources to improve the vaccination experience.
We are excited to feature two speakers from Immunize.org:
- Dr. David Sanders, Chief Health Informatics Officer at Immunize.org, leads digital innovation and website development. He has 20 years of healthcare experience and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
- Courtnay Londo, Program Manager at Immunize.org, leads clinical resource and outreach projects. She has nearly 20 years of public health experience and a master’s degree in communication from Michigan State University.
Purpose of Today’s Webinar
Today’s webinar will highlight practical tips and resources to improve the vaccination experience and address vaccination anxiety. We will review evidence-based electronic, print, and video tools that support a positive vaccination encounter, and share tips for finding resources on the Immunize.org family of websites.
We are going to launch a quick poll: prior to today, were you familiar with Immunize.org? If yes, how often do you visit the website?
It looks like many of you are familiar with Immunize.org, and visit weekly or monthly. Welcome to new and returning users. Thanks for participating.
I’ll turn it over to David Sanders.
Resources to Improve the Vaccination Experience (David Sanders)
We are excited to share these resources and will also save time for a short website demo at the end.
Our focus is improving the vaccination experience, especially around injection anxiety and fainting. We launched our first content in 2022 and have expanded these resources over the last few years. Everything we share is free to download, copy, and share.
What We Offer
- Two on-demand webinars (about an hour each)
- Eight one-page printable PDFs
- Four for providers
- Four for patients, parents, and caregivers (also available in Spanish)
- Six short videos by our CEO, Dr. Kelly Moore
- Links to trusted partner resources
Printable Clinical Resources
For providers, we have one-page handouts on addressing vaccine anxiety for:
- Infants and toddlers
- Children
- Adolescents and adults
We also have a one-page handout on vaccination-related syncope (fainting), including prevention strategies, patient positioning, and how to respond if fainting occurs.
For patients and caregivers, we have similar one-page handouts in plain language, organized by age, plus a fainting resource. These include practical steps to take before, during, and after vaccination, including setting expectations, using comfort measures, distraction, and preparing for common reactions.
Webinars
We offer two on-demand webinars:
- A December 2022 webinar with the Autism Society on improving the vaccination experience for autistic and neurodiverse patients, including sensory supports and communication strategies.
- A webinar with the University of Toronto’s Help Eliminate Pain in Kids and Adults group, focused on evidence-based ways to reduce pain and anxiety. It highlights the CARD approach:
- Comfort
- Ask
- Relax
- Distract
Videos
We have six short videos featuring Dr. Kelly Moore. Three focus on vaccination anxiety (by age group), and three focus on broader vaccination experience topics, including multiple injections, screening checklists, and fainting. These videos are useful for training and sharing with staff.
Additional Partner Resources
We also link to trusted partner materials, including resources from the Autism Society, the University of Toronto, AboutKidsHealth, and evidence-based guidelines from public health organizations.
Now I’ll turn it to Courtnay for additional Immunize.org resources that support patient education.
Patient and Provider Education Resources (Courtnay Londo)
Improving the immunization experience also means meeting patients’ information needs. Patients and parents want to understand which vaccines they are receiving, why they are recommended, benefits and risks, and what to expect afterward.
Resources for Providers
Vaccines A to Z pages include vaccine and disease information, downloadable clinical resources, Ask the Experts content, and federal and state resources.
Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) are CDC fact sheets that explain benefits and risks. Federal law requires providing the current official VIS in English for covered vaccines, and VIS are recommended for other vaccines. Immunize.org offers VIS translations in 48 languages and allows searching by vaccine or language. We also provide printable QR code sheets, such as one for flu VIS translations, to make access easier in clinics.
Downloadable resources: Immunize.org offers 174 printable resources in English, including materials for healthcare professionals and patient handouts. Many are available in 18 languages, including translated screening questionnaires. Resources are updated regularly and announced in our weekly newsletter, IAC Express.
Ask the Experts is one of our most visited sections, with more than 1,300 entries. It includes written and video answers and can be searched by keyword.
Resources for Patients and Parents
LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org is a parent-focused website with credible childhood vaccine information. It uses clear language, real stories, and balanced explanations. The full site is available in English and Spanish.
The “Learn About Children’s Vaccines” section includes vaccine-preventable disease pages with comparisons of disease risks and vaccine risks, plus safety, effectiveness, and side effects information.
VaccineInformation.org offers straightforward vaccine information for all ages, organized by age group, with schedules, resources, personal stories, and videos.
I’ll turn it back to David for a quick demo overview.
Website Demo Highlights (David Sanders)
To find today’s main resources on Immunize.org:
- Go to Clinical Resources
- Select Vaccine Confidence and Addressing Concerns
- Choose Improving the Vaccination Experience
That page includes:
- Provider and patient printable handouts
- The two webinars
- The six videos
- Links to partner resources
We also offer the free weekly newsletter IAC Express, with immunization updates and new resources.
At the bottom of Immunize.org pages, you will find links to our affiliated sites, including:
- VaccineInformation.org
- LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org (English/Spanish toggle)
Now we will open the floor for questions.
Q and A (Selected)
Question: Which sites are best for hesitant patients?
Courtnay: It depends on the audience. For parents of young children, LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org is especially helpful. For broader age groups, VaccineInformation.org is better. Using both is fine.
David: Immunize.org also lists trusted partners, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, CHOP Vaccine Education Center, Vaccinate Your Family, and Voices for Vaccines.
Question: How do you show these sites are unbiased?
David: This can be challenging. One helpful approach is transparency. LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org cites sources on each page and includes guidance on evaluating trustworthy health information.
Question: Are injectable vaccines moving to oral formats?
David: I cannot speak to that. Our focus is on licensed and recommended vaccines currently in use.
Question: How do you respond to concerns about “big pharma” influence?
Courtnay: We have credibility and “doing your own research” resources that can help guide these conversations. Linking to multiple reputable sources can also help build trust.
David: It can help to point to organizations without a direct financial stake, and to emphasize that clinicians are focused on preventing serious disease. These conversations are often about trust, transparency, and meeting people where they are.
Closing
Thank you to everyone who joined today, and thank you to our speakers from Immunize.org.
If you are new to Patagonia Health, we are an integrated EHR, practice management, and billing solution designed for public health departments, with tools to support immunizations and mass vaccinations.
To learn more, visit www.patagoniahealth.com. Thank you again, and have a great day.
