"Kick the Flu Summit II: Communicating Flu Issues in Community Speak!” Authors: Tania Farley Kathe Gustafson Michelle DeGuire Mark Sawyer Adrienne Yancey County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Objectives Identify components of hosting a successful local Immunization summit List creative ways to promote immunization/Flu IZ messages Discuss strategies to engage community agencies and service providers that serve at-risk populations in flu promotion activities County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Hosting an Event 101 Start with an idea Set goals Define scope Create plan – who, what, when, where and how? Manage the plan Assign tasks and follow up regularly Start with an idea Set goals – define what you want to accomplish? Define scope – how big, small or in between? Create plan – who, what, when, where and how? Coordinate and manage the plan County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Hosting an Event, Part II Anticipate problems along the way Execute the plan - Event Day! Evaluate the outcomes Offer a Thank You – lots! Celebrate Consider next steps The plan - assign tasks and responsibilities and follow up regularly Anticipate problems along the way Execute the plan - Event Day! Evaluate the outcomes – did you accomplish your goals? Thank You’s, Kudos – lots! Regroup, celebrate and consider next steps County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Special Touches Location, location, location Getting the word out – send, send, send Food and lots of it! Raffle, prizes and fun Directional signage Parking considerations and others… Event greeters Prepared materials County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

What kind of Flu Season are we going to have this year? The question – why are we doing this? County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Why host a Flu Summit? Activity to support National Adult Immunization Week (Sept 25-Oct 1) Increase adult immunizations awareness among service providers of high risk populations Invite coalition and community partners to dialogue Opportunity to showcase the San Diego County Immunization Initiative (I-3) County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Flu Summit I – What we did Invited speakers Facilitated break out sessions Asked questions about: Flu season myths and misconceptions Successful outreach strategies Useful resources and materials Information dissemination – how to get the message out? County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Flu Summit I – What we achieved Conducted a successful event – 105 participants! Provided and gathered useful information Collected and shared insights on flu myths and concerns Established relationships with new partners Conducted a successful Flu Summit event in 2005 105 participants! Gathered and shared useful information to develop targeted flu messages Collected and shared insights on flu myths and concerns to discuss during community presentations and trainings Established relationships with others. And much more… County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Goals for Flu Summit II Provide an opportunity share up to date/minute flu season 2006 information Recognized that outreach and health promotion was best met through coordination and collaboration Offered an opportunity to share and distribute materials Provided networking opportunities Provide an opportunity share up to date/minute flu season 2006 information Recognized that outreach and health promotion was best met through coordination and collaboration Offered an opportunity to share and distribute materials Provided networking opportunities County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

The Agenda Welcome from the SD Public Health Officer 2006-07 Flu Season update: CA state and San Diego local perspective Pandemic versus Seasonal flu: Epidemiology and County public message campaign Flu season resources: vaccine supply, materials and referrals County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Which Avian Flu message peaks your interest? Avian Influenza (H5N1) Summer, 2006 County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Break out sessions Pediatric Flu “Protecting Our Children”: Expansion of the CDC Recommendations Health Disparities and targeting the High Priority Groups Recommendations for Health Care Workers - The SDHIIP project Creative Flu Prevention Campaigns-“Do Your Part, Be Flu Smart”, Wash your Hands CA State Campaign County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

What we learned! Free expertise is available for the asking FluMist is still a mystery Most popular topic was the pandemic versus seasonal flu presentation Refreshments/food is always a big hit Will we do this again - you betcha! County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Suggested outreach strategies Utilize communication venues – newsletters, email lists, agency staff meetings, develop fact sheets Utilize community health interventions – posters, presentations, and attractive multilingual materials, create videos and PSA’s. Distribute at public sites – post offices, pharmacies, grocery stores, churches, PTA’s and community events Have materials on hand for easy distribution County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Next steps You too can do this! Kick the Flu Summit III is planned for Sept. 2007 We are looking for a new location! We continue to collaborate with partners to ensure the health of San Diego County residents You too can do this! County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch

Acknowledgements Co-authors: Kathe Gustafson, Michelle DeGuire, Mark Sawyer and Adrienne Yancey San Diego County Immunization Branch & UCSD Immunization Partnership staff San Diego County Acting Public Health Officer- Dr. Wilma Wooten San Diego County PHS Asst. Deputy Director- Carmel Angelo Thank you for your support and contributions to this presentation County of San Diego ● Health and Human Services Agency ● Public Health Services ● Immunization Branch