Protecting your Vaccine:
Protecting your Patients

Originally broadcast August 26, 2010

Speakers:
Patricia Beckenhaupt, RN, MS, MPH
Public Health Analyst
National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases, Vaccine Supply and Assurance Branch (VSAB), Centers for Disease Control

Debra S. Blog, MD, MPH
Director
Bureau of Immunization
New York State Department of Health

It has been estimated that vaccine wastage resulting from improper storage and handling costs the United States Vaccines for Children program more than $20 million yearly.  Since vaccines prevent serious, sometimes fatal diseases, the loss can compromise patient safety, affect staff time and patient/provider trust and can also become a liability issue.  This program will focus on the public health implications of improper storage and handling and its application to the roles and responsibilities of nurses involved in immunization.

Objectives:
After watching this broadcast participants will be able to:

• Identify the financial and practical costs of vaccine mishandling
• Explain the roles and responsibilities of nurses in  protecting vaccines from storage errors and mishandling
• Identify critical components of  a vaccine storage and handling emergency plan.

Continuing Education Credits

School of Public Health, University at Albany is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses, Inc., an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

It has been assigned Provider Code PA# 157N.

Course code PA# 157N-240; 1.5 contact hour.

School of Public Health, University at Albany is accredited by the MSSNY to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s).™ Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is sponsored by the School of Public Health, University at Albany, SUNY, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for the CHES to receive 1.5 Category 1 CECH in health education.

Continuing education credits are available until August 2013.

The planners and presenters do not have any financial arrangements or affiliations with any commercial entities whose products, research or services may be discussed in this activity.

No commercial funding has been accepted for this activity.