Stacy Henderson, registered nurse for the Catoosa County Health Department, accepts the Walt Orenstein Champion of Immunization Award from Walt Orenstein, M.D., on behalf of nurse manager Amy Carroll.

On Sept. 13, 400 public and private providers, advocacy groups, physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals gathered at the Macon Marriott City Center for one purpose: to increase immunization rates for Georgians.

Each year, the Georgia Immunization Office presents the Immunize Georgia Conference, a day-long event that plays a key role in educating immunization service providers on current best practices and recommendations, and provides attendees an open forum to discuss and share efforts while learning from national experts. The conference addressed several topics including vaccinology, HPV vaccination and an immunization schedule update.
 
Health care providers understand the importance vaccination plays in protecting patients, themselves and others from vaccine-preventable diseases. The opportunity to learn scientific and programmatic information is essential for safe and competent immunization practices.

The agenda featured such notable names as Walt Orenstein, M.D., professor of medicine, global health and pediatrics at Emory University, associate director of the Emory Vaccine Center and former assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service and director of the National Immunization Program at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). He is also a coauthor of the leading textbook "Vaccines, 5th ed." CAPT Raymond Strikas, M.D., medical officer in the Education, Information and Partnership Branch, Immunization Services Division, NCIRD, CDC and HHS and Sandra Fryhofer, M.D., clinical associate professor of medicine at Emory University, also addressed attendees.  

In addition, the Georgia Department of Public Health celebrated its 19th Annual Immunization Awards. Fayette County Health Department, Pediatric Associates of Savannah and Amy Carroll, nurse manager of Catoosa County Health Department were named Walt Orenstein Champions of Immunization. Recognized for exemplary customer service for public and private providers, Tasia Sheppard received the Clay Coleman Excellence in Customer Service Award.

-Story by Stephanie Nguyen, Golin Harris