Immunization Action Coalition

“There are no material differences in voting rights among members of the governing body, and the governing body has not delegated broad authority to an executive committee or similar committee.”

“Iac's bylaws provide that deborah l. Wexler, md, is the sole member of the corporation. She is entitled to elect the board of directors and to take other member action, including adding other members to the corporation. Dr. Wexler has not taken any action as the sole member of the organization other than to appoint professionals to the board of directors for the purpose of promoting iac's goals and mission.”

“See comment above for part vi, line 6.”

“The organization has a small board of directors. There are no seperate committees of the board of directors.”

“Review of form 990. The organization's staff provides necessary documentation and data via questionnaires to the accountant. Once the draft of the form 990 has been prepared by the accountant, the organization's management reviews the form for accuracy. When the draft is approved by management, the 990 is sent by electronic means to each board member for review and approval. If there are any changes, they will be incorporated into the draft. Once the board has approved the 990, management conveys approval to the accountant to finalize the draft. The final form 990 is signed by the executive director and filed in a timely manner with the appropriate state and federal authorities. Form 990 is available for public review on www.guidestar.org”

“Written conflict of interest policy. Annually the board, management and all employees review and sign their copies of the conflict of interest policy to disclose any conflicts. Copies are reviewed by management for reportable conflicts. Any conflicts are noted in the board minutes. Board members that have conflicts of interest are prohibited from participating or voting in board activities related to the conflict.”

“Compensation of executive director. The organization gathers comparable pay data from the state of mn and the mn council of nonprofit salary and benefits survey to determine fairness. Annual review of executive director's salary and benefits is approved by the board, with the executive director excused from the conversation and voting. The executive director received the same percentage increase in her salary as did the rest of the staff. This process was last conducted in september 2015.”

“The immunization action coalition does not make its articles of incorporation, bylaws, conflict of interest policy, or financial statements available to the general public.”

“The immunization action coalition (iac) works to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for health professionals and the public that enhance the delivery of safe and effective immunization services. Iac also facilitates communication about the safety, efficacy, and use of vaccines within the broad immunization community of patients, parents, healthcare organizations, and government health agencies. For more than two decades, the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) has worked in concert with and provided financial support to iac for the purpose of educating healthcare professionals about u.s. Vaccine recommendations. Cdc first recognized iac's accomplishments in 1997 by awarding it the prestigious partners in public health award for efforts "instrumental in achieving high levels of routine infant hepatitis b immunization." physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals at every level of the immunization community, including both the public and private sectors, rely on many of the following projects in their daily work to increase immunization rates across the lifespan.”

“Program: education iac creates publications and educational materials for healthcare professional staff, their patients, and the public. All of these publications and materials are available online and copyright-free. Iac express: currently emailed free of charge to nearly 51,000 opt-in subscribers every wednesday, iac express provides up-to-date information about new and updated cdc vaccine recommendations, new fda vaccine licensures, newly released vaccine information statements, new immunization education materials, current events in the vaccine world, and journal articles. Special editions of iac express are also published when there are urgent matters to be reported. During fiscal year 2018 (fy2018), iac published 58 issues of iac express containing 948 articles on topics related to vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. The current issue, as well as the 1,381 issues published since iac express's beginning in 1997, is available online at www.immunize.org/express. Ask the experts: ask the experts (ate) is a recurring feature of iac express, in which cdc experts answer challenging and timely questions about vaccines and their use. Questions are gathered from iac's close communications with clinicians who provide immunization services as well as from iac and cdc staff who closely monitor the latest changes to vaccine recommendations. More than 1,100 ates are available and searchable on the ask the experts web section online at www.immunize.org/askexperts. Unprotected people reports: since 1998, iac has collected and published personal stories and case reports about people who have suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases. We believe that unprotected people reports is extremely important in helping parents and the media understand the value of vaccines. These reports can be particularly effective in countering stories claiming harm from vaccines. Currently, 109 reports are available online at www.immunize.org/reports. Educational materials for healthcare professionals, their patients, and the public: iac is the most relied upon source of free cdc-reviewed immunization materials for healthcare professionals, their patients, and the public. During fiscal year 2018, 4.4 million copies of iac's 320 educational pieces (including translations) were downloaded from iac's handouts web section. All of iac's educational materials are available online free of charge and ready to copy at www.immunize.org/handouts. Iac believes it is very important to provide information for non-english speaking patients and the public. We currently provide spanish translations of 51 of our patient/parent handouts. Many of these patient/parent handouts are also translated into 6 additional languages. Translations of vaccine information statements (viss): for more than a decade, iac has maintained an online index of the federally mandated viss for which hundreds of translations are available. The index can be viewed at www.immunize.org/vis and can be sorted alphabetically or by vaccine or language. Visitors can also find tips on how to use viss, news about viss, and links to related cdc resources. In october 2016, iac entered into a five-year cooperative agreement with cdc to support iac's role as the official clearinghouse of vis translations. As a result of the federal funding, iac provides translations in a minimum of nine languages within 30 days of cdc's release of a new or updated vis for a routinely recommended vaccine. The languages provided within the current grant year are arabic, burmese, chinese (simplified), chinese (traditional), french (european), russian, spanish (mexican), spanish in rich text format (rtf), somali, and vietnamese. In addition, iac posts spanish vis translations online in both pdf and rich text format (rtf) files. Rtf versions enable electronic records systems (that cannot utilize pdfs) to provide spanish translations within their systems. Iac staff coordinates nationally with numerous donors and volunteers wh”

“Website for healthcare professionals: www.immunize.org: launched in 1994 as one of the earliest websites devoted to immunization, www.immunize.org is the largest resource of practical, user-friendly immunization information available today, serving an average of more than 25,000 visitors per day in fiscal year 2018. The website makes available more than 1,500 web pages and 1,400 pdf files dedicated to educating healthcare professionals and the public about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. Currently, the site ranks number one in google when searching on the term "immunize." this website houses the complete collection of iac's publications and educational materials, all of which are available free of charge. Users are encouraged to copy and distribute them. The collection includes all viss published in the united states in dozens of languages. In the past 12 months, users downloaded 7.0 million ready-to-copy (pdf) documents from the website, including approximately 2.6 million viss and their translations and 4.4 million copies of educational materials. Other noteworthy sections of the website include acip recommendations, package inserts, diseases and vaccines, clinic tools, state vaccination laws, image library of vaccine-preventable diseases, and video of the week. Website for the public, vaccine information you need: www.vaccineinformation.org: developed in consultation with cdc, this website for the general public presents straightforward information about vaccine-preventable diseases and their vaccines. Launched in august 2002, it currently hosts an average of more than 4,500 visits per day, making more than 200 pages available. It provides basic information about vaccination, vaccine safety, and the overall importance of immunization, and features 234 vaccine-preventable disease photos and 187 video clips. Major sections include infants/children, preteens, teens, and adults. The website offers parents and people of all ages timely, accurate, and proven information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. The site also features hundreds of valuable resources, including personal testimonies of suffering and loss due to vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine-related videos, and public service announcements, along with educational materials from trusted organizations. Website for immunization coalitions: www.immunizationcoalitions.org: this website provides access to an interactive online database of local, state, regional, and national immunization coalitions. The database allows interested healthcare professionals, parents, immunization advocates, and others to contact immunization coalitions for resources, ideas, or volunteer opportunities. Currently, 131 immunization coalitions have entered information about their structures and activities. Adult vaccination guide: iac's vaccinating adults: a step-by-step guide (guide) was released november 2018. The guide provides 142 pages of practical information in an easy-to-use format to help practitioners implement or enhance adult immunization services in their healthcare settings. The guide also includes an abundance of web addresses and references to assist in staying up to date with the most current information. Developed by staff at the immunization action coalition, the guide had several early reviews for technical accuracy by subject matter experts at the centers for disease control and prevention and the national vaccine program office, both of which provided financial support. A pdf version of the guide can be downloaded for free at www.immunize.org/guide. Technically speaking: technically speaking is a monthly column written by iac executive director dr. Deborah l. Wexler. The children's hospital of philadelphia vaccine education center (vec) features the column in its monthly e-newsletter for healthcare professionals. Technically speaking columns cover practical topics in immunization delivery such as needle length, vaccine administration, storage and handli”

“Program: partnering for immunization iac is broadly and deeply connected to every level of the united states immunization community. We serve as an independent "communications hub" through our publications, websites, email news services, conference organizing and participation, contributions to policy making, and direct contact with every vaccine-involved federal agency, state health department, professional medical association, and vaccine manufacturer. Virtually all of america's professional medical societies partner with iac as members of our advisory board. A list of these societies is available online at www.immunize.org/aboutus/advisoryboard.asp. National adult and influenza immunization summit (naiis): naiis is a partnership led by cdc, the national vaccine program office, and iac, of more than 140 organizations including more than 700 individuals. Since 2003, iac has been the leading member of naiis, continuing to serve as the naiis fiscal agent and managing its website at www.izsummitpartners.org. The three naiis work groups take specific actions that lead to improvements in vaccine uptake. Iac chief strategy officer dr. L.j tan leads this project. National network for immunization coalitions: iac founded the national network for immunization coalitions in 2012. Iac manages the group's communications and deliberations, including an email listserv, newsletters, and website. Iac also conducts monthly teleconference calls of the coalition directors and arranges speakers for bimonthly webinars attended by an average of more than 100 participants. Currently, the network comprises more than 600 immunization advocates, including representatives from 130 immunization-related coalitions and non-profit leaders. Iac has served on the planning committee for the biennial national conference for immunization coalitions and partnerships (formerly the national conference on immunization and health coalitions) since the conference began in 1998. Immunization policy and conferences: iac is deeply involved in state and national vaccine policy making. Some examples: for more than a decade, dr. Wexler, dr. Tan, iac associate director for immunization education dr. William l. Atkinson, and iac associate director for immunization projects ms. Diane peterson have filled important consulting positions on many advisory committee on immunization practices (acip) working groups, including childhood immunization schedule, adult immunization schedule, general recommendations, combination vaccines, influenza, herpes zoster, evidence-based, pneumococcal, hepatitis, pertussis, and meningococcal-hib. Dr. Tan is a former voting member of the national vaccine advisory committee (nvac) and has served as chair of its immunization infrastructure working group, as well as serving on the vaccine safety, maternal immunization, adult immunization, health care personnel, and vaccine confidence working groups. Iac staff members attend or give presentations at cdc's national immunization conference, the immunization program managers conference, and meetings of the national vaccine advisory committee (nvac) and acip, as well as at many state immunization conferences. Iac staff attended 70 state or national and six international conferences during fiscal year 2018. Dr. Wexler and dr. Tan are members of the 317 coalition steering committee, which advocates for increased federal funding for those who are uninsured or underinsured, as well as for increased financial support for the infrastructure of immunization programs in public health departments. Dr. Wexler, dr. Tan, iac associate director for research dr. Sharon humiston, iac coordinator for public health ms. Laurel wood, and ms. Peterson participate on several monthly conference calls hosted by iac national partners with participation by organizations such as the american academy of pediatrics, the american academy of family physicians, the american college of physicians, and the american pharmacists association”

“Hepatitis b vaccine birth dose project: for more than two decades, iac has helped lead the national effort to ensure that every newborn receives a birth dose of hepatitis b vaccine prior to discharge from the newborn nursery. We have completed a guidebook for implementing birth dose policies titled hepatitis b: what hospitals need to do to protect newborns and launched a national campaign in 2013 urging birthing institutions to adopt hepatitis b vaccine birth dose policies. As part of this initiative, iac has developed the hepatitis b vaccine birth dose honor roll. To be included in the honor roll, a birthing institution must have: (1) reported a coverage rate of 90% or greater, over a 12-month period, for administering hepatitis b vaccine before hospital discharge to all newborns, including those whose parents refuse vaccination, and (2) implemented specific written policies, procedures, and protocols to protect all newborns from hepatitis b virus infection prior to hospital discharge. Honorees are listed on iac's website, awarded a certificate, and featured in iac express. Currently, the honor roll includes more than 400 birthing institutions, all of which are listed online at www.immunize.org/honor-roll/birthdose/honorees.asp. Honor roll for patient safety: in 2009, iac created the honor roll for patient safety, which recognizes healthcare settings that have implemented mandatory influenza vaccination policies for their healthcare staff. To date, more than 600 healthcare institutions have been honored. The honorees are listed at www.immunize.org/honor-roll/influenza-mandates. Voices for vaccines: after conceiving the idea for a membership organization of parents dedicated to promoting the value of immunization, dr. Wexler co-founded voices for vaccines with dr. Stanley plotkin and dr. Paul offit, all of whom serve on its executive committee. Website for vaccine facts and policy: www.vaccinefactsandpolicy.org: in collaboration with george washington university and the association of immunization managers, iac has created an online database of statistics and policies covering each of the 50 states, washington, dc, the eight u.s. Territories, and the five major cities with federally funded immunization programs. The data for the vaccine facts and policy project are divided into five major topic areas, including demographics and rates, fiscal environment, law and policy, strategies and initiatives, and the structure of immunization programs. Each major topic area is subdivided into areas that allow users to customize their queries in order to locate information on specific immunization law and policy topics, including but not limited to correctional facilities, coverage rates, healthcare personnel, immunization information systems, medicaid, school entry requirements, and standing orders. Information resource and customer service: iac makes a tremendous effort to answer email and phone inquiries from healthcare professionals and the public in a timely and accurate manner. Staff members respond to more than a thousand email messages and phone calls each month. Iac in the media: iac staff members are often called on to provide accurate information to print, radio, television, and internet news media. Some recent contacts with media include abc news, american academy of family physicians, baylor lariat, becker's hospital review, bloomberg, chicago tribune, cnn, columbia daily tribune, el paso times, elsevier journal, forbes, fox news, idcarelive, infectious disease news, journal of the american medical association, kutv, salt lake city, utah, the la times, md magazine, medical economics, medscape medical news, national public radio, new york magazine, newsweek, pharmacy times, portland press herald, public news service, victoria advocate, wall street journal, washington post, webmd, and the york daily times. When vaccines are portrayed inaccurately in the entertainment or news media, iac often responds with authoritative informati”

“Database consultant: program service expenses 27,058. Management and general expenses 71. Fundraising expenses 18. Total expenses 27,147. Design consultant: program service expenses 3,218. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 3,218. Admin consultant: program service expenses 212. Management and general expenses 22,259. Fundraising expenses 5,396. Total expenses 27,867. Misc consultant: program service expenses 10,848. Management and general expenses 620. Fundraising expenses 30. Total expenses 11,498. Standing orders project consultants: program service expenses 109,670. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 109,670. Writer/epidemiologist consultant: program service expenses 58,027. Management and general expenses 6,109. Fundraising expenses 328. Total expenses 64,464. Research/grant/writer consultant: program service expenses 10,642. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 10,642. Projects consultant: program service expenses 42,241. Management and general expenses 974. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 43,215. Public health coordinator: program service expenses 89,868. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 89,868. Creative consultant: program service expenses 42,102. Management and general expenses 1,558. Fundraising expenses 895. Total expenses 44,555. Director of iz education: program service expenses 39,565. Management and general expenses 2,252. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 41,817. Translations: program service expenses 37,208. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 37,208. Benefit and payroll service fees: program service expenses 3,498. Management and general expenses 311. Fundraising expenses 77. Total expenses 3,886. Writer/web content consult: program service expenses 79,940. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 79,940. Editing consult: program service expenses 16,262. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 150. Total expenses 16,412.”