The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Regional Immunization Conferences are held every fall in eight cities across the state. The conferences were held in October and early November.

• More information about the 2011 Fall Regional Immunization Conferences 
• Continuing education is available for nurses, physicians and pharmacists 
  

Speakers' Handouts 

The speakers' handouts were not distributed at the conferences. Most of the handouts are posted below.

The following handouts are based on the speakers' slides from the final two conferences in Kalamazoo (11/9/11) and Grand Rapids (11/10/11).

• Agenda 
• Vaccine Update   
• Michigan Immunization Program Update   
• Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Update  
• Empowering Health Care Personnel to Change the Future of Vaccination - Part 1
• Empowering Health Care Personnel to Change the Future of Vaccination - Part 2

The Hot Topics presentation handout is no longer posted because some of the slides are outdated. If any conference attendees need some of the Hot Topics slides, they may send a request to Rosemary Franklin at franklinr@michigan.gov.

Additional Resources

• ACIP recommends HPV vaccine for all 11-12 year-old males 
• CDC Vaccine Storage & Handling Guide   (Oct. 2011)

Keynote Speakers 

William Atkinson, MD, MPH, is scheduled to speak at the conferences in Gaylord, Marquette, Bay City and Troy (Oct. 18 & 20, and Nov. 1 & 2). He will give the Vaccine Update presentation and will participate in the Troubleshooting Panel session. Dr. Atkinson is a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is the principle writer and presenter for numerous webcasts and satellite broadcasts on vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as the author or co-author of many publications on vaccine-preventable diseases. Dr. Atkinson is also the editor of the Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook (the "Pink Book").

Donna Weaver, RN, MN, is scheduled to speak at the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids conferences on Nov. 9 & 10. She will give the Vaccine Update presentation and will participate in the Troubleshooting Panel session. Ms. Weaver is a Nurse Educator for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC. As an immunization nurse educator, Donna travels nationally providing immunization training and information to the public and to healthcare professionals. Ms. Weaver also provides clinical consultation to immunization providers and assists in the development of immunization continuing education products offered by CDC, including the yearly CDC course: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.

JoEllen Wolicki, RN, BSN, is scheduled to speak at the East Lansing and Dearborn conferences on Oct. 5 & 6. She will give the Vaccine Update presentation and will participate in the Troubleshooting Panel session. Ms. Wolicki is a Nurse Educator for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC. As an immunization nurse educator, JoEllen travels nationally providing immunization training to the public and healthcare professionals. Ms. Wolicki also provides clinical consultation to immunization providers and assists in the development of immunization continuing education products offered by CDC, including the yearly CDC course: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.

Thanks for all that you do to keep families safe from vaccine-preventable diseases. You are truly making a positive difference in the lives of Michigan residents.