Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pink Book Training

This week the Houston Health Department (HHD) partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to host the 2023 CDC Pink Book Training and the Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net Provider Summit, which featured an awards ceremony honoring the hard work of medical professionals across the state of Texas. Guests were also treated to a fireside chat with Dr. Peter J. Hotez, the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor University and the co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development.   

From October 23-24, guests heard from various immunization specialists who provided information about updated vaccines, treatment procedures, and the proper management and distribution of vaccines. One issue medical providers often run into is a lapse in immunizations for both children and adults. The training stressed the importance of helping clientele continue their doses throughout their lives to ensure protection against illnesses that are preventable through vaccination.  

“I thought the training was very helpful, we received a lot of information,” said Gloria Escobedo, a licensed vocational nurse. “We go through immunization training in my work, but it’s always good to hear how other people approach concepts and how they approach immunization.”  

Many providers are acutely aware of the common lapse in vaccinations for their patients and are often doing the work in their area to make sure their young and older clients are up to date with their shots.  

“We always make sure we are giving parents current information that they need about vaccines, so they know to keep up with their children's shots,” said Veronica Holmes, a pediatric nurse practitioner with Pristine Pediatrics. “I always reiterate at every visit the importance of keeping up vaccines and we try to reach out with phone calls and text messages about upcoming shots.”  

On Wednesday Mark Ritter of the Texas Department of State Health Services provided an overview of the state’s management of vaccine distribution this year, where the state has exceeded expectations, and the areas where growth is needed. Moving forward Ritter says the focus is now on the End of Disaster Declaration for COVID-19 Response and new universal booster recommendations, VFC implementation, and adding COVID-19 to the state’s Adult Safety Net (ASN) program for uninsured and under-insured adults. The DSHS will also work on playing catch-up on delinquent immunizations for children and adolescents, increasing emphasis on flu and COVID-19 vaccination efforts in those age groups, new RSV vaccines for pregnant women, and older adults, and possible expansion of adult immunization activities through federal legislation.  

HHD Deputy Local Health Authority Dr. Janeana White spoke with Dr. Hotez about his new book, “The Deadly Rise of Anti-science: A Scientist’s Warning” which covers his battle with vaccine misinformation and dispelling myths surrounding immunizations for a healthier world. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Hotez has been immersed in this subject matter and says it’s important because of how easily the rhetoric spreads. Dr. Hotez says he wants people to understand the globalization of vaccine misinformation and how to spot it.   

Afterward, an award ceremony honored clinics across the state of Texas for their successful immunization efforts for children and adults and highlighted the locations that achieved a compliance visit with zero deficiencies.   

"It feels great to be awarded,” said Holmes, whose clinic won an award for its efforts in vaccinating children between the ages of 24-35 months. “It's reassuring because it confirms that we are doing what we’re supposed to be doing to get children vaccinated. A lot of times people fall through the cracks with getting their vaccines, so we do a lot of work to catch them up.”  

A special thanks to the HHD Immunization Bureau for coordinating the training and summit, and all the exhibitors and sponsors that made it all possible.