Idaho Immunization Champions 2012
Senator Denton Darrington
Senator Denton Darrington has been a tireless advocate for immunization throughout his long career. In addition to 30 years as a member of the Idaho Senate, Senator Darrington was the first Chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and a member of the Immunization Subcommittee of the Healthcare Task Force. He was instrumental in the passage of legislation to promote immunizations including Idaho’s Immunization Reminder Information System, Idaho Immunization Assessment Board, and school and childcare immunization rules. Over the years, Senator Darrington has been outspoken in committee hearings, explaining the importance of immunizations to his colleagues. He authored a journal article detailing laws that work to promote childhood immunization and participated in the CDC’s Partnership Conference on Public Health Law. The 2012 Idaho Immunization Champion award recognizes his leadership and dedication to ensuring that all of Idaho’s children are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Senator Joyce Broadsword
The Idaho Immunization Program would also like to recognize Senator Joyce Broadsword for her support of statutes and rules aimed toward increasing voluntary immunization rates in Idaho. In committee during the 2010 legislative session, Senator Broadsword supported the bills changing IRIS from an opt-in to and opt-out registry, and creating the Childhood Immunization Policy Commission. On the floor of the Senate she also supported the bill creating the Vaccine Assessment to keep access to childhood vaccine universal in Idaho. During the 2011 legislative session, Senator Broadsword supported changes to the Rules which govern the requirements for immunizations for children in Idaho schools and licensed childcare. As Senator Broadsword has decided to conclude her service to Idaho in the Senate this term, we offer our appreciation and thanks to her for the support she’s given over the years. Tens of thousands of Idaho’s children are living safer lives because of the policies she helped pass.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Childhood Immunization Champion Award
Dr. Susan Kim exemplifies all the qualities of an immunization champion by being a visible and dedicated leader in our community and acting as an educator and advocate for immunizations in Idaho. She has been an advocate for immunization policy advancements and has utilized innovative strategies to promote immunizations for infants, children, and adolescents in Idaho.
Dr. Kim was pivotal in the successful development of the Central District Immunization Advisory Board in 2010. This Board strives to increase immunization rates, increase partnerships within the community, provide support and education for health care personnel, increase public awareness of vaccine issues, and target systems changes. As a result of Dr. Kim's hard work and advocacy, the Central District Immunization Advisory Board has been able to develop and implement multiple immunization activities in western Idaho.
In addition, Dr. Kim has been an advocate for immunization policy advancements in Idaho. She was a key community leader in promoting, educating, and advocating for the change in school immunization requirement laws that went into effect in 2011.
Dr. Kim provides physician-to-physician consultation for the Peer to Peer Immunization Education Program, a partnership between Central District Health Department and Boise State University. As physician consultant for the Peer to Peer Immunization Education Program, Dr. Kim has met with physicians and practitioners at 28 medical offices in western Idaho to discuss medical office's immunization rates and strategies that have been proven successful in increasing immunization rates. Due in great part to Dr. Kim's leadership and advocacy, the Peer to Peer Immunization Education Program has increased use of standardized protocols in medical practices by 20 percent, increased use of reminder recall systems by 20 percent, and increased immunization rates by 25 percent to date. Dr. Kim’s involvement with the Peer to Peer Immunization Education Program is an example of an innovative strategy to promote increased immunization rates for infants and young children in western Idaho.
Another successful activity that was possible due to Dr. Kim’s community leadership was the ability to provide vaccines at Boise State University's High School Sport Physicals Event in June 2011. During this event, over 170 immunization records were reviewed and parents were provided information about vaccines that their adolescent was due to receive. In addition, 107 doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine and 98 doses of Tdap vaccine were administered at this event.
From October 2011 to February 2012, Dr. Kim acted as Chairperson for the Central District Immunization Advisory Board due to a vacancy in the leadership position. Again, Dr. Kim's leadership in this transition process was crucial to the continued success of the Central District Immunization Advisory Board. As Co-Chair for Idaho Immunization Coalition's Best Practices Committee and Medical Advisor (elect), Dr. Kim provides a leadership role on immunization issues and collaborates with others to build support for and increase immunization rates of infants and young children. Her impact on this committee effects immunization activities and strategies throughout the state of Idaho.
Dr. Kim truly exemplifies and possesses the qualities of Idaho's immunization champion.
