Serving Florida's Residents

Enhanced Service Delivery: The Field Staff conduct quality assurance and quality improvement activities in the public and private sectors. These efforts encourage and increase the use of best practices for vaccine safety, immunization schedules, vaccine administration and age-appropriate recommended immunizations for all residents.

Assessments, Surveys and Audits: Data collection includes the immunization status of two-year-old children, school children, and kids in childcare or Head Start centers, benefits all residents---seasonal and permanent. Reliable data and accurate analysis are critical to achieving and maintaining optimal levels of protection for all Florida residents against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Immunization Information Systems: Assisting public and private providers with accurate and current immunization information benefits our very mobile population. Field staff efforts to expand the accessibility of providers to an effective immunization registry serve all residents, including retirees, new residents or growing families.

Training, Outreach and Community Education: A high level of awareness and understanding of vaccine-preventable diseases and appropriate immunizations is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. Parents, providers, care givers, day care facilities, schools, hospitals and nursing homes are but a few recipients of Field Staff training and education efforts. Identification and use of accurate information and resources, in culturally appropriate forms, benefit parents, guardians and care givers. In-service training and education for providers increases the use of best practices and timely administration of all appropriate vaccines at each visit while eliminating duplicate immunizations or administration of vaccines not consistent with recommended schedules.

Surveillance and Outbreak Control: Reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases is one of the successes of our multiple partnerships. However, work remains. Our highly mobile and diverse population requires effective surveillance protocols and trained personnel. Field Staff assist in vaccine-preventable disease surveillance and outbreak control activities that include investigation and containment of outbreaks and coordination of  the perinatal hepatitis B prevention activities. They perform follow-up on Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) reports according to state and federal guidelines.

Vaccine Management: Adequate, safe and well-managed vaccine supplies are critical to protecting Floridians from vaccine-preventable diseases. Ensuring the efficacy of all doses administered to Florida infants, adolescents and adults is a shared responsibility among all our partners. Promoting best practices for handling and storage, vaccine accountability and accurate record-keeping are elements of our comprehensive approach. Field Staff provide current information, training and direct assistance to public and private providers to achieve these objectives.