Immunization Champion Awards

Dan Nelson, director of pharmacy at Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), has led efforts to expand vaccine access across 42 rural Alaska communities. His work with the Alaska Vaccine ECHO Hub Team helped deliver evidence-based guidance and innovative distribution strategies to some of the nation’s most remote areas. Dan’s collaborative spirit fostered partnerships across Tribal, state, and regional systems. He led TCC’s inclusive vaccination approach, expanding access beyond Tribal members to all residents, including educators and non-Native individuals. He worked with local school districts and the Alaska COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force to secure doses for rural first responders and school personnel, strengthening community-wide protection. Dan’s leadership has strengthened immunization infrastructure, supported local healthcare providers, and built public trust through inclusive and culturally responsive outreach.

Tuumafua Maiava is the assistant director of the child care division at the Department of Human and Social Services. She has demonstrated exceptional dedication in supporting immunization efforts throughout various outreach initiatives over the years, including the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has played a vital role in promoting immunization among children enrolled in daycare services by actively encouraging and reminding parents of the importance of timely vaccinations. One of her significant contributions includes assisting in the implementation of a key regulation requiring that all children enrolled in childcare services obtain an immunization clearance from the immunization program. Under this policy, children must be up-to-date on all recommended vaccines before enrollment is permitted. This measure has played a crucial role in raising vaccine coverage rates and in preventing severe cases during several outbreaks experienced in American Samoa.

Adelina Lopez, United Community Health Center (UCHC)’s immunization coordinator, is a passionate leader who has transformed vaccine access in Southern Arizona’s rural communities. She has built a high-performing immunization program across 11 clinics, launched creative campaigns like “Flucella” and drive-thru events, and helped deliver over 17,000 vaccines in 2023–2024 alone. She led the organization-wide implementation of the AccuVax Vaccine Management System to improve safety, tracking, and storage. Her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic laid the groundwork for lasting improvements in access, education, and trust. Through strong partnerships with local community centers and the Food Bank of Southern Arizona, she has helped bring thousands of vaccines directly to the communities that need them most. Adelina’s work has earned state-level recognition and, more importantly, the confidence of families she serves. Her empathy-driven approach and unwavering belief in equitable care continue to shape healthier, stronger communities.

Dr. Robert Hopkins, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, has spent over 35 years advancing vaccine education, policy, and public health. He leads national efforts to combat misinformation, promote vaccine confidence, and support healthcare professionals. As a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a founding member of Immunize Arkansas, Dr. Hopkins continues to mentor future providers and champion immunization efforts at both the state and national levels. Dr. Hopkins is an exemplary educator who has positively influenced numerous healthcare professionals and immunization advocates, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation and to build vaccine confidence.

Dr. Deborah Higer is a doctor at Shasta Family Care. She exemplifies dedication and innovation in advancing immunization efforts, particularly among vulnerable populations. She engages directly with nursing home staff and residents to answer questions and build trust. She administers flu vaccines to ensure timely and efficient protection. She goes beyond clinical responsibilities by integrating immunization documentation and recommendations into all nursing home admissions, reinforcing a culture of prevention from the outset of care. Each fall, she leads a ‘Drive-By Flu Shot’ initiative during the first week of October, offering accessible flu vaccines to both patients and the broader community. This proactive model ensures increased vaccination rates, particularly among populations that might otherwise face barriers to care. Dr. Higer’s work has had a profound and measurable impact on immunization efforts in California, particularly among high-risk, elderly populations.

As director at Phalanx Family Services (PFS), Laura Bailey leads a team deeply committed to advancing health equity and vaccine confidence in the far south region of Chicago. Through the Healthy Chicago Zones (HCZ) initiative, her team has played a pivotal role in building local partnerships to address vaccine disparities and public health needs in historically underserved communities. Under Laura’s leadership, PFS has hosted impactful community meetings, connected with faith leaders, and supported the Chicago Department of Public Health by organizing numerous high-turnout vaccination events. Their outreach efforts, which include personalized engagement by community health workers and creative platforms like PlayStreets, have helped reach over 161,000 Chicagoans in one year. Laura and the PFS team are widely recognized for their grassroots leadership and innovative approach to promoting vaccine education and combating misinformation.

Dr. Philip Dauterman is the laboratory director at the Commonwealth Healthcare Center. He leads by example and encourages all of his lab staff to stay up to date on immunizations. He works closely with his Employee Health Department to identify lab staff who are not up to date on their immunizations, and he motivates employees to comply with required vaccinations, including the annual flu vaccine. Under his leadership, all lab staff are current on the annual flu vaccination.

Melissa Bonomo is the pharmacy manager at Albertsons. She is a dedicated pharmacy leader who has significantly expanded immunization access in the Boulder community. As a high-volume pharmacy manager, she has trained ten technicians since 2021 and led her district in flu vaccinations, administering over 5,000 in the 2024–2025 season. In 2024 alone, her team delivered nearly 10,000 vaccines across various needs. Melissa hosted 15 off-site clinics for schools, seniors, and underserved populations, reflecting her deep commitment to equitable and community-centered care. Her pharmacy is a yellow fever vaccination clinic and offers travel health consultations. Through her work providing travel vaccines, she not only prevents the spread of disease in her community in Colorado, but also to patients traveling outside of the country as well.

Dr. Claire Free operates her own pediatric practice, Pediatric and Adolescent Health – Brookfield, where she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a devoted, caring, compassionate, and dedicated provider and advocate for young patients and their families in her community. As a member of the Danbury area Immunization Action Plan (IAP) program’s advisory group, Dr. Free collaborates with the committee to improve vaccination services in the community, advocating for accessible and equitable vaccines for children in the area. During the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement for all providers to report all vaccinations administered, Connecticut’s Immunization Information System (IIS), CT WiZ, Dr. Free rose to the challenge and entered all 1,200 patients’ historical immunization records in the IIS, ensuring all patients have accurate and easily accessible immunization information for years to come. Dr. Free is also dedicated to quality improvement. In working with the Danbury area IAP staff on CDC’s Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers (IQIP) program, Dr. Free worked to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates for adolescents in her care by focusing on her strong provider recommendation. Through Dr. Free’s work, there was a significant increase in patients receiving their HPV vaccines.

Dr. Habib Shariat is the assistant professor of pediatrics at the Department of Pediatrics at Howard University College of Medicine. They implemented innovative, technology-driven strategies to engage both patients and clinical teams. Dr. Shariat led a collaborative, sustained effort with clinic staff to conduct targeted patient outreach. This included manually recalling patients, engaging in one-on-one conversations with families, and providing tailored education, particularly for those who were hesitant or sought alternative vaccine schedules. By maintaining this personalized, proactive approach on a monthly basis over several years, Dr. Shariat not only built trust with families but also removed barriers to care. As a result, their practice now holds the highest immunization rate among all pediatric providers in Washington, DC. It is a powerful testament to the effectiveness of their approach and the depth of their commitment.

As executive director and co-vice chairman of the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia (HHCGA), Shirley E. “Bella” Borghi is a steadfast advocate for health equity and vaccine access in underserved communities. With over 16 years of dedicated service and leadership across more than a dozen organizations, Bella has led numerous initiatives to bring immunizations and health education directly to Georgia’s Hispanic/Latino populations. She played a pivotal role in Georgia’s CEAL (Community Engagement Alliance) team, helping to mobilize clinicians, host vaccine events, and shape a nationally recognized COVID-19 response strategy. Her leadership has extended to HPV vaccine advocacy, organizing state Capitol events, and pushing for awareness of HPV-related cancers in men. Bella’s relentless commitment to eliminating vaccine disparities and increasing community trust exemplifies her servant leadership and her impact at both the state and national levels.

Hannah Litt is the medical director of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College (UHMC) Health Center, where she oversees annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations for nursing students. She is considered an authority on immunization in her community and has actively participated in programs to increase access to immunizations for the UHMC Health Center and Maui community by securing vaccines for uninsured adult students and community members affected by the wildfires. Through her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UHMC Health Center was one of the largest public COVID-19 vaccination and testing centers on Maui, vaccinating more than one-third of the island’s population.

Diane Zanocco is the population health representative at Crusader Community Health. She has been a resolute advocate for patient immunizations since November 2016, and her tireless efforts in promoting vaccination have significantly improved the health and well-being of the patients she serves. Throughout her tenure, Diane has played a pivotal role in various process improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing workflows and increasing vaccination compliance. She is not only a key player in educating parents on the importance of immunization, but she consistently goes beyond to meet their unique needs.

Dr. Megan Carlson is the director of health services for Indianapolis Public Schools. She has spearheaded innovative strategies to increase immunization rates among students, bridging gaps exacerbated by access barriers and public health challenges. Recognizing that traditional clinic appointments were often inaccessible for working families, Dr. Carlson introduced school-based immunization clinics. These clinics significantly lowered logistical obstacles, permitting students to receive vaccinations between classes while parents picked them up later. Dr. Carlson integrated targeted outreach, notifying families about national measles spikes and urging vaccinations right before spring break to prevent imported exposures. Her data-driven approach involved monitoring vaccination records, identifying over 1,100 unvaccinated students, and deploying multi-day MMR clinics ahead of major travel periods.

Theresa Endres works at Buchanan County Public Health. She has taken on the roles of educator, advocate, and trusted spokesperson for the local Amish population. Through individual and small group discussions with Amish families and collaboration with Amish elders, she has built a relationship rooted in trust and respect. Her leadership has extended to training community partners on culturally sensitive communication techniques, ensuring the broader community is equipped to engage with this population effectively. She spearheaded efforts to plan, promote, and host the Amish Health and Safety Day event in August 2024. Theresa established and strengthened partnerships with a broad coalition of stakeholders, including local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and first responders, Benton County Public Health, Buchanan County Health Center, Environmental Health, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Air Care. She united these organizations to create a supportive network committed to improving community health. The event was supported by 30 volunteers and engaged 300 Amish members.  Theresa has demonstrated a sustained commitment to building trust and collaboration.

Dr. Gretchen Homan is an associate professor at the Kansas University Medical Center. She is a dedicated leader in advancing accurate immunization education through collaboration, advocacy, and professional engagement. She plays a key role in Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives sponsored by the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (KAAP), serving as the physician lead for a statewide effort to improve childhood immunization rates. In this role, Dr. Homan organized and led QI meetings for more than 20 participating clinical sites, guiding teams in implementing evidence-based strategies. She has provided educational webinars to Head Start health managers and shared clinical feedback on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s new measles webpage, helping ensure content is accurate, accessible, and aligned with best practices in pediatric care. She regularly engages in advocacy efforts, providing expert input on state immunization policies through written and oral testimony, media interviews, and legislative updates.

Dr. Horace Hambrick has spent nearly 40 years championing pediatric health and vaccine access. Founder of Georgetown Pediatrics and a longtime community leader, he established a free clinic for uninsured children and has served on multiple health boards to improve vaccination rates. One significant impact of Dr. Hambrick’s immunization efforts is the increase in vaccination rates within the communities he serves. By making vaccines accessible and promoting their importance, he has helped to educate families and combat vaccine hesitancy. His work promotes healthier families, as parents understand the critical role of vaccinations in safeguarding their children from preventable diseases.

Dr. Jennifer Avegno is the director of the New Orleans Health Department and has been a vocal and active leader in promoting immunizations. She has championed large-scale vaccination efforts, including mass vaccination events and deploying mobile units to underserved communities. She defended local campaigns and built strong partnerships with schools, churches, and local community groups despite challenges with misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Dr. Avegno’s work provided clear and trusted communication, leading to higher vaccination rates and stronger public trust across the city. Dr. Avegno’s efforts helped close the gaps in vaccine coverage, resulting in matching vaccination rates across all ethnicities in New Orleans.

Anne Connors is the director of the Community Health Department at the Maine General Medical Center. Under her leadership, the department has provided school-based flu vaccination clinics throughout Maine’s Kennebec Valley since 2010. Working with the region’s Public Health Council, they have established hard-won collaborations with the region’s school systems and have continuously refined the program in collaboration with school staff and families to adapt and innovate. As a result, the program has become a trusted fixture in the school year and they are seen as a knowledgeable, approachable, and evidence-based source of immunization. They serve an important role as an immunization advocate and trusted expert in recruiting schools and answering questions from staff and parents. In 2021, despite longer distances, they expanded geographically into Somerset County after local services were discontinued, ensuring continuity of access for students and staff. In 2023 and 2024, they met additional needs requested by local schools to provide ‘catch-up’ clinics for vaccinations required to attend school that students otherwise would not be able to get. Despite recent financial constrictions, they’ve continued to adapt this program and protect it from cuts, recognizing its vital role in community health and reflecting their deep commitment to go far beyond routine duties to build and sustain a model of accessible school-based immunization.

Melaia Lawanivalu is the nurse supervisor at Ebeye Hospital. Her leadership was instrumental in the overall success of the Ebeye immunization program. Under her leadership, the hospital has consistently maintained a coverage rate of 90% and above. Her dedication often extended beyond regular working hours, and she consistently prioritized the well-being of the community without complaint. Melaia also actively engaged with the community as a spokesperson in school PTA meetings, where she effectively encouraged the uptake of HPV vaccines. She is widely recognized and trusted, becoming a point of contact for parents and children who often seek her guidance and support with personal issues. She fostered strong collaboration within the community. Her extensive knowledge of the local population and their living situations, often exceeding that of her own nurses, allowed for a more effective and community-centered approach to the immunization program.

Dr. Michael Zollicoffer has decades of experience helping Marylanders as a physician and has a patient base spanning generations. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Zollicoffer engaged in panel discussions and participated in interviews with various media outlets to reach Maryland residents and disseminate accurate information to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. This advocacy approach involved nuanced and culturally competent discussions addressing vaccine hesitancy without judgement. He was able to dispel myths and misinformation, fostering trust and confidence in vaccines among diverse populations.

As vaccine coordinator at Children’s Medical Office in Boston’s North Shore, Sherry Maiorana has been instrumental in maintaining high vaccination rates, reducing waste, and ensuring access for high-risk children. She leads education efforts for staff, manages vaccine inventory with precision, and continuously innovates to overcome barriers to immunization, whether through drive-up clinics, in-car vaccinations, or targeted outreach. Each year, Sherry organizes influenza clinics for the practice and runs a clinic early in the season specifically for the medically complex and high-risk patients to ensure that they can receive the influenza vaccine as soon as possible. Her leadership helped the practice earn a perfect Department of Health inspection score and successfully roll out COVID and RSV immunizations. Sherry’s collaboration with local partners and commitment to equitable vaccine delivery make her a vital champion in pediatric immunization.

Dr. Katherine Schafer is the managing partner at Bloom Pediatrics. She is a leader in promoting and administering immunizations through collaboration and innovation. Dr. Schafer and her office partnered with Oakland County Health Division to administer COVID-19 vaccines. In order to reduce barriers to access, she expanded her office hours to include early morning, late afternoon, and Saturday appointments. She established “The Vaccine Machine,” a van that contained equipment and supplies to take vaccines out into schools and community events to meet the demand. Dr. Schafer and her team’s impact is both tangible and intangible. Some tangible impacts are the thousands of vaccines administered at their office locations, the homeless shelter, and at community events.

Sheyanga Beecher co-led the effort to found the Hennepin Healthcare Mobile Health Program and currently serves as the medical director. Under her leadership, the program has grown and become a model in Minnesota. She partners with local and state public health agencies to provide vaccines in the community. Since its inception in 2020, Hennepin Healthcare’s Mobile Health Program has served over 11,000 patients, administered 12,000 vaccines, and hosted over 100 pediatric pop-up clinics. Eighty-five percent of patients in the mobile health program identify as people of color, and 38% are non-English speakers. Sheyanga’s outreach in the community has provided important understanding about vaccine hesitancy and the best approach to allay these concerns. Sheyanga spearheaded efforts to conduct community focus groups and surveys around sources of vaccine information.

Kara Bushman is the project coordinator for primary care at Compass Health Network. She has set up and enrolled 15 Vaccines for Children (VFC) clinics and oversees 24 total clinics within 12 counties in Missouri. Kara recognized the need for more effective vaccine management and procedures and developed a resource guide for all clinic staff, including signage detailing eligibility guidelines and current vaccine inventory levels on all storage units. Kara developed an immunization orientation for new employees and conducts annual staff training on vaccine administration, safety, scheduling, VFC requirements, and emergency response. Kara designated eight clinics to include daily walk-in schedules so patients can receive immediate vaccine access instead of experiencing delays due to scheduling conflicts. Kara collaborated with four school districts to host nine separate back-to-school clinics during the 2024-2025 school year.  She collaborated with local public health agencies by supplying additional vaccines and services, ensuring patients seeking care did not miss essential immunization services.

Sophia Newcomer is an associate professor at the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences. She has worked closely with the Montana immunization program on developing innovative, data-driven approaches for identifying areas for improvement in immunization services delivery. She has experience in vaccine science through workshops and trainings for Montana providers, nurses, and other medical professionals on topics ranging from vaccine safety to vaccine confidence. She serves on the steering committee of Montana Families for Vaccines, a grassroots, parent-led organization that supports strong public health policies in the state. She routinely provides testimony at the state legislature for vaccine-related bills, and is frequently called to answer questions from legislators about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and policy.

Dr. Jose Cucalon Calderon is the associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has worked tirelessly to support statewide immunizations. His efforts include national and state education immunization supporting webinars, leadership as an immunization champion in the Nevada chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and founding and highlighting vaccine education in the Nevada Chapter of the Hispanic Medical Association. He has used his platform at the Nevada Chapter of the Hispanic Medical Association to share webinars and written materials on vaccine information and access, allowing him to connect with the Latinx community. He routinely highlights strategies to decrease vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake in all populations, including those underserved. His efforts also aim to decrease disparities in access to immunizations. He has supported the efforts and outreach of the Nevada State immunization program for numerous years, amplifying evidence-based messaging and supporting other providers and families.

John Beland is the emergency preparedness and response manager at Partnership for Public Health, Winnipesaukee Regional Public Health Network. He has led the Winnipesaukee Regional Public Health Network in efforts to engage and connect with schools in their community to encourage them to host school-based clinics for influenza immunization. During the last school year, he and his team held 18 school-based clinics serving 19 schools, which vaccinated a total of 508 children. John has leveraged his relationships with local fire departments to engage in critical vaccine outreach, education, and emergency preparedness for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and worked hard to build solid relationships with schools in his region.

Kateri Chino is a community health program manager at Keres Community Health. Ms. Chino from Pueblo of Acoma persistently leads the charge of making immunizations accessible in Indigenous communities of New Mexico. Her work supports health initiatives in Native American communities and ensures health equity in Tribal communities through best practices, outreach and engagement, self-determined education, partnerships, and sustainability. Ms. Chino’s vaccine equity and confidence efforts include building relationships with multiple Tribal nations, developing culturally-tailored education materials in indigenous languages, collaborating with trusted messengers for mobile vaccine clinics, and community discussions. She also planned the first Tribal Vaccine Equity Conference in New Mexico and reached members from all Tribal communities in the state and more. The conference sparked more interest in vaccine equity information, mobile vaccine clinics, long COVID, shingles, and highlighted vaccine importance.

Megan Whitney is a supervising pharmacist and has worked as a Kinney Drugs pharmacist since her licensure in 2004. By partnering closely with other health care providers and agencies to advocate for vaccinations, her pharmacy in Watertown, NY, is consistently the top immunizing store year after year. Megan and her team attend wellness clinics and health fairs at schools, community centers, senior housing complexes, nursing homes, and shopping malls. They also provide immunizations to homebound patients, clinics at senior/disabled living apartments, assisted living facilities, schools, libraries, community centers, businesses, and various employer groups. Her store’s success is due to her rarely turning down opportunities to vaccinate patients as long as they meet guidelines by finding ways to accommodate them. Megan leads her staff to stay very positive about vaccines and make a point to never tell patients that they are too busy or don’t have time or to come back later.

Gilberto Ward is the nurse manager at VIP Community Services. He developed comprehensive workflows to streamline vaccine administration for both children and adults, ensuring efficient access to routine and catch-up vaccinations. He addressed barriers to care by building a nursing team and prioritizing staff development through ongoing training on injection techniques, patient education, and updated vaccine protocols. He fostered strategic partnerships with local schools and community organizations to reach populations at risk for under-immunization. His collaborative efforts helped ensure that children received the vaccines needed for school enrollment and that vulnerable adults had access to necessary booster and preventative care. He fosters collaboration among the nursing staff, clinic staff, leadership, and community stakeholders to align efforts around improving vaccine adherence and access.

As North Carolina’s state health officer and public health director, Dr. Kelly Kimple advocates for a strong public health system, rooted in prevention and trust, to respond to whatever public health threat comes our way – measles, avian influenza, mpox, and many others. She focuses on communicating clearly, supporting the division’s teams in sharing transparent, trustworthy data about immunization coverage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped lead North Carolina’s vaccination roll-out, a monumental effort that brought together partners from across sectors, navigating rapidly shifting guidance, addressing operational and IT challenges, and managing the communications needed to support millions of North Carolinians in the middle of a global crisis. Dr. Kimple’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more than 14 million doses of vaccines being distributed to more than 4,000 locations across North Carolina. Her ability to bridge clinical practice, data-driven research, and public policy has helped to strengthen North Carolina’s immunization landscape.

Sarah O’Connell provides culturally sensitive immunization support to young families by centering trust, respect, and community values in every interaction through her work as an immunization nurse at Spirit Lake Early Childhood Tracking. She works closely with parents and caregivers, offering education and guidance in ways that honor cultural beliefs and family traditions. Whether through one-on-one conversations, partnerships with local leaders, or community-based events, Sarah ensures that immunization efforts are inclusive, accessible, and empowering. Her approach fosters understanding, reduces hesitancy, and builds lasting relationships that promote the health and well-being of children and their families. In the past year, Sarah has begun planning mobile outreach to target families who have no transportation, begun relationships with new mothers to ensure their newborns have medical care, and provided incentives that are needed in her community. Her culturally sensitive outreach helped increase childhood immunization rates and bridged longstanding gaps in preventive care.

Abby Heist is the primary Vaccines for Children (VFC) coordinator for Cincinnati Children’s Primary Care – Fairfield. As the primary VFC coordinator, she oversees the administration of the VFC program, educates her staff on the importance of childhood immunizations, and promotes a culture of immunization at her practice. Abby places VFC orders for multiple practices and ensures vaccine is not wasted by facilitating vaccine transfers between her offices. Throughout 2024, Abby was responsible for securing 10,630 doses of VFC vaccine at a value of $1,022,231.44. This vaccine served approximately 3,560 VFC-eligible patients. In addition, she secured additional doses of vaccine for her office’s privately insured patients. In addition to leading her own practice, Abby works with other Cincinnati Children’s offices to ensure they have the vaccines needed on hand to support their patient populations.

Rachel Burgess, APRN, FNP-C has been serving as a healthcare professional for over 20 years and opened the Burgess Family Healthcare clinic in Valliant, Oklahoma, with her husband in 2018. For two years, Rachel and nursing staff from the clinic have collaborated with the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program to identify strategies that lead to improved immunization practices and processes by participating in the immunization quality improvement program (IQIP). Rachel also added a full-service medical diagnostic imaging center to meet other health care needs. The center is the first and only ultrasound clinic in Southeast Oklahoma and has provided Rachel and staff with the opportunity to discuss immunization prior to a child’s birth. By recognizing the need to serve people in rural Southeast Oklahoma, Rachel and staff have provided an opportunity for the residents of Valliant to receive quality healthcare services that they previously may not have had access to.

Tracie Koepplin is the clinical manager at the Physicians Medical Center P.C. Her advocacy has been instrumental in energizing the Yamhill Community Care Immunization Workgroup, leading to meaningful steps that have significantly improved vaccination rates among Yamhill Community Care members. Tracie and the immunization workgroup collaborated with the Yamhill Community Care team to develop and implement a multipronged public awareness campaign reminding the public to get vaccinated at all life stages. The campaign spanned social media, internet, radio, and TV commercials. Each component of the campaign was designed to reach diverse audiences in English and Spanish and encouraged people to be proactive about protecting their families against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Ann Perkins, RN, BSN, CSN, is the lead nurse at William Penn High School in York, PA, with a sheer determination to increase vaccinations through her leadership and innovation to work through barriers and ability to successfully navigate administrative and legal hurdles. Ann interpreted records, determined vaccines needed, accessed parents for permission, and entered the required demographic information into the school records and in the Pennsylvania Immunization Electronic Registry System (PIERS). Her work to combine efforts with the newly established York Welcome Center has been recognized as a model program, receiving the endorsement of the PA Secretary of Education. Ann’s work has allowed for a substantial increase in accessibility to conquer a huge number of “catch-ups” for vaccines and equitable health care to about 8,000 students within the York City jurisdiction, with 344 additional families supported with vaccines. Ann has also been instrumental in establishing a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinic, which has increased access to health care services and supported the efforts of helping students to become successful by decreasing educational delays.

Dr. Merrill Mittathany is the pharmacist immunization specialist at Shop and Carry Pharmacy. He has gone above and beyond to promote immunizations by spearheading the Shop and Carry Pharmacy Home Vaccination Program. This program was initially launched in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to provide COVID-19 vaccines to homebound individuals, but it has expanded to include flu, RSV, pneumonia, and shingles vaccines. Over the past three years, he has personally visited more than 5,000 homes and served seniors, chronically ill individuals, and those with mobility or transportation limitations. As a leader, he trains staff, coordinates with caregivers and local providers, and educates patients to overcome vaccine hesitancy. He advocates for broader pharmacist involvement in immunization policy and access. Dr. Mittathany’s model of care has inspired other pharmacists and providers to reimagine the pharmacists in community health.

Mirialyz De Jesús Gonzalez’s work in immunization has been vital for public education and reducing barriers to vaccine access in Puerto Rico. Her engagement in public outreach through social media, including live interviews and educational videos through many platforms, has reached a broad audience across Puerto Rico, promoting awareness and trust in vaccines to a wider population. She has also led on-site education efforts, distributing accessible informational materials, one-on-one counseling to patients, and creating a welcoming environment for children and families. She continues to coordinate extended clinic hours, transportation for patients, and collaborate with colleagues to monitor incomplete immunization records to ensure timely follow-up and improve vaccine coverage among patients.

Rosa Tomlinson is a dedicated school nurse-teacher at the International Charter School (ICS) in Rhode Island, where she increases vaccine awareness among students and their families, especially during vaccination clinics and kindergarten enrollment. She makes a point to personally greet students and families at all ICS clinics and works these events to create a warm, welcoming, and efficient environment for all. Nurse Tomlinson’s wholesome work was appreciated by parents and children alike and sparked other conversations on health and created a warm community atmosphere. She works diligently and closely with other nurses to identify high-need populations and ensure equitable access to vaccines for all students and their loved ones. She recognizes and serves the diverse linguistic needs of ICS, offering personalized interpretation on-site at all clinics in both Spanish and Portuguese. Nurse Tomlinson’s advocacy and passion for community engagement serve to break down barriers, foster trust, and improve vaccine confidence in an especially densely populated urban neighborhood.

Dr. Kathleen Cartmell is a health services researcher at Clemson University and has worked passionately to support vaccination in South Carolina. She has obtained three national grants to promote vaccination through the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service. Dr. Cartmell built a statewide model and network for increasing vaccine awareness, addressing vaccine misinformation, and navigating people to opportunities for vaccination by training all 26 health extension agents in South Carolina that cover the state to promote vaccination. Dr. Cartmell has also partnered with Clemson University’s student health services to promote HPV vaccination on campus by training health center clinicians, making recommendations to students, and carrying out a large-scale social media campaign on campus to encourage vaccinations. Dr. Cartmell’s work has significantly increased vaccinations throughout South Carolina. Additionally, her work has been selected for use by the National Cooperative Health Extension Service as primary training models and resources for their continued vaccination projects across the U.S.

Cristy Layman is the coordinated school health lead nurse at the Sevier County School System. She coordinated a mobile unit that visited each of the middle schools in the county to provide immunizations to the upcoming seventh graders. Prior to the implementation of this program, school nurses had difficulty with their seventh-grade students not receiving their immunizations on schedule. The program alleviated this problem by providing immunizations prior to the beginning of the school year. She has coordinated immunization clinics for kindergarten students. She has been instrumental in organizing with the local health department to provide flu vaccines for staff and students at each of her county’s 32 schools.

Miriam Judy Turnbull is a registered nurse at St. Thomas East End Medical Center Cooperation. She organized many successful outreach events that made a significant impact on the community, particularly with the older adult population. She was a member of the transition team that trained nurses at the Maternal Child & Health and Medical clinics on St. Thomas and St. Croix on the immunization schedule for children, teens, and adults. She has also provided training on vaccine storage and handling and was instrumental in the initial training of several coordinators in the immunization program. She is considered a subject matter expert on vaccines and is sought out by colleagues in matters regarding immunizations. As the Vaccines for Children (VFC) coordinator at her clinic, Nurse Turnbull manages the VFC program and ensures that fellow providers are following CDC guidelines and procedures.

Danielle Francisco is the vaccine coordinator at Physicians to Children. She goes above and beyond by printing off the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) lists of patients that are overdue for vaccines. She compares them to the electronic health record system and fixes the VIIS as needed. She calls patients needing vaccines and schedules visits for them. She takes leadership in researching and learning more about vaccines and how to better educate staff, patients, and parents. She explains the importance of vaccines to parents when calling to schedule vaccines. She is a mentor/trainer with ordering, controlling, and is more than willing to answer any questions that coworkers, providers, or parents may have regarding vaccines. She implements new strategies to promote safe and effective administration within our office and community.

Wil Edwards is the head pharmacist and owner of SIDS Pharmacy in Pullman, WA. His work ensures that SIDS promotes ease of vaccination at their pharmacy location by providing walk-in appointments for all routine vaccines every day of the week, which can be difficult in the rural area where they are located. In addition, Wil has provided mobile vaccination clinics to schools, long-term care facilities, and local businesses for over a decade, meeting people where they are and removing barriers to access. Due to the strong, trusted relationships Wil built throughout the community, he was a vital vaccine provider during the pandemic when the area lacked providers. In the past 3 years, Wil Edwards and SIDS Pharmacy have vaccinated over 1,500 people and given more than 3,000 vaccines at on-site community vaccination clinics. These vaccines were all given at no cost to the patient and at a location of the community’s choosing.

Penny Funk serves as the clinical director of the Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center. Through her work in recognizing access gaps, Penny sought grants to expand vaccine outreach and developed partnerships to enhance community vaccine access. She oversees vaccine storage and handling, monitors updates from the CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and Immunize.org, and regularly communicates vaccine trends and changes. This helps the Scenic Bluffs’ practices to remain current, compliant, and responsive to evolving public health needs. Penny has also strengthened Scenic Bluffs’ relationships with school districts, universities, county health organizations, food pantries, churches, and Boys and Girls Clubs—ensuring vaccines are accessible at no cost. Since joining Scenic Bluffs in 2024, she has forged meaningful partnerships that enabled the health center to provide vaccines at 34 public events, resulting in nearly 150 immunizations for individuals who may otherwise have gone without.