Executive Vice President Ann Spicer represented the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians at the 5th Annual Immunization Advocacy Day held April 13 at the Ohio Statehouse. The Immunization Advocacy Network of Ohio (IANO) sponsored the event. The IANO is a network of immunization providers and supporters who share information, best practices, and serve as a collective voice educating and advocating for vaccines in Ohio. The OAFP is a member of the network.
Briefings on current immunization issues were provided by:
- Melissa Arnold, CEO of the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
- State Representative Dan Ramos (D-Lorain, OH)
- Deepa Mukundan, MD, of the University of Toledo College of Medicine
- Dennis Cunningham, MD, from Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Matt Whitehead, director of legislative affairs for the Government Policy Group.
Following briefings, immunization advocates visited with state legislators to remind lawmakers of the value of vaccines for all ages.
Current legislative policy discussed with state legislators included:
- Ohio Immunization Process Improvement – legislation soon-to-be introduced by Rep. Ramos that standardizes the immunization form listing immunizations recommended by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) for children prior to entering kindergarten, seventh grade, and eleventh grade. When a request is made for philosophical or religious exemption, the physician or other health care professional would have to provide the parent or legal guardian of the child information on the benefits of immunization and the health risks to the pupil and to the community of the communicable diseases for which immunization is required in Ohio. A contraindication exception would have to be noted on the immunization form.
- House Bill 170 – a bill that would prohibit an employer from taking adverse employment action against a person who has not been or will not be vaccinated against influenza
- Implementation of the new law (passed in 2015) to require meningitis B vaccines for adolescents
- House Bill 311 – a bill introduced on April 12 to require ODH to prepare and make available on its website information about influenza vaccines for older Ohioans living in at institutional setting (skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, and independent living facility).