|
|
|
|
TIP Welcomes New Executive Director |
|
|
|
We’re exciting about welcoming Terri Burke as our executive director. Terri is the former executive director of the ACLU of Texas, a position she held for nearly 13 years. “We are extremely happy that Terri agreed to lead The Immunization Partnership as we expand our education and advocacy across Texas,” says John T. Dugan, III, M.D., chair of The Immunization Partnership Board of Directors. “Our board members and staff were impressed by her success in developing programs and philanthropic relationships, as well as her vision for designing and managing organizational growth.” |
|
|
|
“I am excited by this opportunity to continue working to improve the health and lives of the people of Texas,” Terri says. “I especially look forward to joining an amazing team that has a wide range of proven expertise in public health, education, advocacy, and public policy. Their work in this year’s legislative session and three special sessions helped pass two laws that make it easier for Texans to make well-informed decisions to protect their own health and safety and the health of others.” Terri had a 32-year career in journalism prior to joining the ACLU of Texas. She held senior editor roles at The Hartford Courant, The Dallas Morning News, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Albuquerque Tribune. She also was editor-in-chief of the Abilene Reporter-News. Burke is a fourth-generation Texan and a Houston native. She has served on the Greater Houston Partnership’s Quality of Place Committee; volunteered with the Sunshine Coalition that worked with state legislators to increase transparency in government; and is a member of the Philosophical Society of Texas. She studied journalism and political science at The University of Texas at Austin. and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Lamar University. |
|
|
|
|
|
Remember TIP in your year-end philanthropic giving |
|
|
|
The Immunization Partnership is the only organization in Texas dedicated solely to improving the health of ALL Texans through immunizations. We provide healthcare professionals, the public, the media, and policymakers with current evidence-based immunization information, news, and materials. We are proud to be your trusted resource. |
|
|
|
Please consider TIP when deciding where to make your year-end philanthropic donation. We do not charge for what we do. Instead, we rely on generous supporters like you to help us make the greatest impact in providing the education, information, and advocacy that will keep Texans healthy today and for generations to come. You can find out more about our programs and how you can help us by going to our website. We appreciate all you do to help keep Texans healthy and thriving because we can’t educate and advocate for immunizations without support from folks like you. |
|
|
|
|
|
Save the date for our annual Community Immunity Luncheon |
|
|
|
|
|
We hope you'll join us for our 13th Annual Community Immunity Luncheon on April 6, 2022. We use this special event to focus community leaders on the importance of immunization issues, to raise funds to support our programs, and to honor individuals who have advanced immunizations and increased immunization rates. We will present Dr. Jason V. Terk with the Ralph D. Feigin, MD Award for Excellence, and H-E-B with the John R. Boettiger, Jr. Award for Community Partnership. Dr. Terk is with Cook Children’s Physician Network in Keller, Texas. We also will honor Venus Ginés with our first Community Immunization Champion Award. |
|
|
|
We also want to thank our dedicated chairs, Catherine Mitchell and Kay Tittle, MS, RN, FACHE, for all their work to return this year’s luncheon to an in-person event. You can make your reservation and get more information on the luncheon website. |
|
|
|
|
|
COVID-19 vaccines authorized for kids 5-11 We now have the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine authorized for children 5-11 years of age. This is great news for all parents of kids in this age group, not only in Texas, but also across the country. Many of these parents have children 12 years of age and older who have received their vaccine. Now, they can have most of their family members, if not all, protected as we approach the holiday season. |
|
|
|
|
|
Public health experts have a special concern for children in our communities of color with limited access to health care, and particularly vaccines. Add to that hesitancy driven by distrust and a lack of information in all our communities, which public health experts fear will delay an end to the pandemic. That’s why we encourage all parents to talk honestly with their healthcare provider about their concerns and what’s best for their children. |
|
|
|
|
|
Manjunath: Removing vaccine hesitancy in communities of color begins with establishing trust |
|
|
|
TIP Health Equity Council for Immunizations member Dr. Suma Manjunath used an opinion piece carried by Texas newspapers to address vaccine hesitancy among parents in communities of color. She also is a pediatrician and Managing Physician of the Travel Medicine Clinics at Kelsey Seybold Clinic in Houston. Dr. Manjunath says distrust and lack of information drive hesitancy in communities of color, which is why she tries to address these concerns with parents who remain unsure. She says she hopes their ongoing conversations about the health of their children have established a trust that will result in their children receiving the vaccine. |
|
|
|
She goes on to say that pediatricians should be aware of the cultural, political, or religious influences behind the hesitancy with parents, not only in communities of color, but also in all our communities. The COVID-19 virus does not respect culture, language, politics or religion, she says, adding that it is up to healthcare providers and public health workers to discover the most effective ways to remove these community hesitancies, particularly among parents concerned with the safety of their kids. Dr. Manjunath says a partnership between pediatrician and parent begins with open and honest discussions about concerns, anxieties, and what is in the best interest for the health and well-being of the children who rely on informed and caring adults to do what is right for them. |
|
|
|
|
|
Advocating for ALL vaccines to prevent illness and death We are grateful for individuals who selflessly help us keep our communities free from vaccine-preventable diseases. Gregg Williams is a member of our Health Equity Council. He also is the father of Nicolis “Nico” Williams, a Texas A&M student who died February 11, 2011, from bacterial meningitis. Greg and his family advocated with TIP and others to require meningitis vaccinations for all incoming freshmen. The Jamie Schanbaum Nicolis Williams Act was the result. You can learn more the Williams family here. |
|
|
|
TIP Meme of the Month The Billy Joel song says “Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood.” But for many, there is no holiday from COVID and the pandemic. Millions of American family members and friends refuse to be around unvaccinated individuals even during the holidays. For them, there is no compromise when it comes to vaccination. They see immunization as a matter of life and death. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mobi vs. The Shield Mobi explains community immunity and the importance of keeping those who are unable to receive vaccines safe from harm. You can receive a 50% discount on your book order by using coupon code: TIP English version: Hard cover or Paperback Spanish version: Hard cover or Paperback If you would like to order bulk copies of the book, please email kgore@immunizeUSA.org. |
|
|
|
Return to school at TIP’s Immunization University Are you a nurse who needs professional continuing education credit? We can help through Immunization University (IZU). This new online platform provides nursing educational courses/modules, which include information about immunizations and vaccine-preventable diseases. The nursing-approved continuing education credit program is through a partnership with Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth. We also offer non-credit courses. These free courses are open to everyone. To take any of the courses, please click here. |
|
|
|
Good copy is inspiring. Click the pencil icon to edit this copy and replace it with content that speaks to the supporter in a personal, emotional, and actionable way. Make it clear that their support is mission-critical. |
|
|
|
Twitter’s blue check If you follow us on Twitter (@Immunize_USA), you may have noticed the new blue check mark on our profile. Not everyone, including some of the top vaccine groups and medical facilities, receive this coveted verification. |
|
|
|
Per Twitter: The blue Verified badge on Twitter lets people know that an account of public interest is authentic. To receive the blue badge, your account must be authentic, notable, and active. Your account must represent or otherwise be associated with a prominently recognized individual or brand, in line with the notability criteria. People who are using Twitter effectively to bring awareness, share information, and galvanize community members around a cause, to bring about socioeconomic, political, or cultural change, or to otherwise foster community, may be Verified. Other criteria may include three or more featured references within the six months in news outlets including specialty publications related to their profession or expertise. As an organization whose only mission is to educate and advocate for vaccines proven to work and save lives, we will continue to live up to the trust you and our followers have in us. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Immunization Partnership Podcasts |
|
|
|
Along with our regular podcasts, we now offer a daily immunization news digest: TIP News. You can listen to these podcasts at your convenience on either of our podcast platforms. Vaxx Voice covers general immunization information while Vaxx to the Future features COVID-19 virus and vaccine information. All of our podcast episodes are free. No subscription necessary, and they are available on most podcast platforms. Click on one of the images above to access that podcast. |
|
|
|
|
|
Partner with TIP We partner with a wide variety of stakeholders to effectively collaborate on eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases across Texas. We greatly appreciate the help of these diverse and strong alliances. Here’s where you can learn more about our partners and how to become one. |
|
|
|
|
|
TIP in the News Find out what TIP is saying about COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases, and what the media are saying about TIP by visiting our TIP in the News page. Also, you can catch up on past Vaxx Voice newsletters here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TIP's mission is to eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases by educating the community, advocating for evidence-based public policy, and supporting immunization best practices. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Immunization Partnership
240 West Galveston Street #1985 | League City, Texas 77574-1985
281-400-3689 | info@immunizeUSA.org |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
