Educate and Vaccinate Alabama Teens

Failure to vaccinate can result in illness, hospitalization, cancer, or even death. To stop preventable diseases from affecting youth in Alabama, both now and in the future, we must educate and vaccinate teenagers.

Alabama ranks just 23rd in the country in Tdap immunization rates, 39th in meningococcal immunizations, and 14th in HPV-related cancers.

As part of its effort to care for those in Alabama, faculty and students from the Harrison School of Pharmacy are taking action to improve adolescent immunization rates in the state. With your donations, the Harrison School of Pharmacy plans to:

• Work with pharmacists to provide educational materials and information for patients
• Develop educational materials for healthcare providers
• Purchase vaccines for underinsured or uninsured patients

Alabama is one of the most affected states in the country when it comes to immunizations. The Healthy People 2020 initiative has a goal of an 80% immunization rate among adolescents for common immunizations such as Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap); Meningitis (MCV); and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), but many Alabama counties fall well short of the goal at 40% or less.

Reasons for lack of vaccination include a shortage of primary care physicians and pediatricians in many Alabama counties; healthcare providers potentially not identifying and recommending vaccines when needed; questions and concerns from parents; and the lack of adequate insurance or any insurance at all.

By supporting the immunization outreach project, you are playing an important role in improving the lives and health outcomes for those in Alabama and empowering Auburn University students and faculty to make a life-saving difference in their communities. Thank you!