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VFC-AFIX Quarterly Conference Call Minutes
January 14, 2009

Grantees Present

Present: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Chicago, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Is., San Antonio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Virgin Is., Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

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Summary

Introduction of Mary Huynh, newest member of CDC’s VFC/AFIX team

VMBIP Update: Recap from Program Managers’ Meeting

VFC Updates

  • Non-compliance with VFC Requirements Algorithm conference call
  • VFC Coordinator Spring training
  • VFC Management Survey
  • VFC Contact information update
CoCASA v4.0 Highlights

AFIX Updates
  • General reminders
  • Childhood and Adolescent Assessment Standards
  • AFIX Feedback Training April 2-3
Final announcements & upcoming important dates

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Minutes

VMBIP Update: Recap from Program Managers’ Meeting (Brad Prescott, Julie Orta, Helen Kuykendall)

VFC Updates (Nancy Felon)

  • Non-compliance with VFC Requirements Algorithm conference call
    A call is scheduled for next Wednesday, January 21 from 2:00 – 3:30 (eastern). Call-in information and a presentation will be sent by Tuesday, January 20.
  • VFC Coordinator Spring training
    There are three upcoming VFC spring trainings, and some still are open. These trainings are for new VFC coordinators. The February training is full, but there are two other trainings April 21, 22 and May 26, 27. Contact Nancy Fenlon (ncf1@cdc.gov) or Mary Huynh (eui3@cdc.gov) if you would like to attend one of these training.
  • VFC Management Survey
    Nancy highlighted some of the changes to the 2008 VFC Management Survey. The survey is currently available and it is recommended that grantees begin work on the survey soon.
  • VFC Contact information update
    Please visit the VFC contacts website (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/contacts-state.htm) and check that your contact information is correct.

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CoCASA 4.0 (Nathan Crawford and Troy Waddington)

  • Highlights
    As states on website, you will need service pack 1 for the .NET framework 2.0 (link is on website) for CoCASA 4.0 to run properly. If, when you try running CoCASA, you get a message about "the initializer …threw an exception" then you know you need the download.

    Will need to use CoCASA 4.0 for your report to CDC due March 1

    Capture of adolescent data

    Updated algorithms

    Capture of feedback method

    Report changes Secondary and tertiary ed. Visits

    AFIX follow-up visit The AFIX advisory group is working on a CoCASA user manual

  • CoCASA training requests
    The recent survey asking about interest in an annual or bi-annual CoCASA training indicates that most grantees would like such training. Watch for more information soon about an upcoming CoCASA training.
  • Support for Windows Vista
    For CoCASA users downloading the program onto Windows Vista, CDC would like to hear from you at the survey here: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/cocasa/install.htm

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AFIX Updates and Reminders (Nathan Crawford)

  • General feedback reminders
    Quality, not quantity
    Face-to-face whenever possible
    Clinic-driven
    Facilitators, not auditors
    Discussion, not presentation

  • Childhood and Adolescent Assessment Standards
    Yes, the standards specify that CDC is asking grantees to report both the 431331 and the 4313314 series in CoCASA to report in 2010.

    The adolescent standards do not require that all grantees do adolescent assessments. The adolescent standards apply only to those grantees doing adolescent AFIX.

    CDC (AFIX) has been asked for recommendations regarding how to change assessment parameters because of the Hib shortage. Although series rates will likely decrease, it is recommended that grantees continue to measure the usual series (431331; 4313314), because showing trends from a constant measure provides valuable information, even if the trends (downward) are due to a shortage. It is also recommended that grantees discuss the Hib shortage with providers during the feedback. Also, especially during a shortage, it can be helpful to show a provider their single vaccine rates rather than only showing series rates.

  • AFIX Feedback Training April 2-3
    An agenda and a "required" letter to assist with your travel approval are in draft and nearly complete. These will be sent shortly. Registration for the training will be on-line, and also available soon. Finally, there is no cost for this training.

  • Final announcements & upcoming important dates
    March 1: VFC Management Survey

    March 1: AFIX Policy & Procedure Manual

    April 8: Next VFC/AFIX call (2009 schedule is on website)

    CDC strongly recommends that grantees begin working soon on their VFC management survey

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This page last modified on January 21, 2009
Content last reviewed on January 21, 2009
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

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