1. The 2007 Fall Flu CD Kit is currently being updated for use during the 2008-2009 season. This kit was introduced to local Hospital CEOs, Medical Directors, Clinic executives, epidemiologists, and professional healthcare members of the community to provide resources for these organizations to encourage fully immunizing their employees to prevent absenteeism and spreading of flu to their patients, co-workers, family and friends.
A Postpartum Tdap CD Kit is currently being put together to encourage local hospitals to immunize newly delivered postpartum patients against tetanus, diphtheria, and especially pertussis (“whooping cough”). By adulthood, any protection from childhood immunizations is low and there is a rising number of adults, parents, grandparents and senior citizens who are contracting and spreading pertussis (“whooping cough”) to the most vulnerable of our population—infants and young children. Adults of all ages are encouraged to contact their private physicians, medical homes, clinics, or the Tulsa City-County Health Dept. in order to arrange for a Tdap booster—for their own safety and health, as well as that of their children, grandchildren and the public at large.

There is an interest in the Tulsa Coalition to work with other Oklahoma Counties that have Immunization Coalitions in order to encourage more coalitions to form in each locale with the eventual result of an Oklahoma STATEWIDE Coalition to form in order to improve the immunization rates and immunization practices for our state. The TAIC is making inquiries into the local and state community to find sources of philosophical support for this movement, as well as financial, organizational, logistical, and volunteer support.

“KICK Packets” (packets of immunization information for infants and children) continue to be dispensed through 7 (SEVEN!) Tulsa area hospitals that have obstetrical (newborn delivery) practices. The TAIC works hard with several agencies including the Tulsa City-County Health Department and the GoodWill Industries WorkForce to store, assemble, arrange for distribution, and delivery of materials to hospitals, along with our wonderful hospital nursing staffs on postpartum and nursery units doing the bedside, pre-discharge “gifting” of these important materials that encourage education and acquisition of the immunizations for infants and children on a timely schedule. The Coalition distributes 13,000 of these packets PER YEAR.

We continue to be thankful to ALL those involved in the “KICK Packet” project. It is an expensive and enormous task. DONATIONS are ALWAYS needed and are currently very low. Please see the link on our home page to “Donations” to find out how you can help. Thank you!

Planning will start soon on the Fall Flu season and the Greater Grace Fall Flu event. Please continue to watch our website for details as they are available. Other information re: free flu clinics available via the Tulsa City-County Health Dept. and the Oklahoma Caring Foundation will be made available when known. If you have questions, please call Kathy Sebert, RN/Coordinator-TAIC at (918) 595-4514 or email her at ksebert@tulsa-health.org .