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29th Pennsylvania Immunization Conference

Friday, June 13, 2025

Hershey Lodge

325 University Dr.
Hershey, PA 17033

Internet Live Course

This training will be offered as a live online course, with details provided to registered participants in advance of the event. If you do not receive communications, check your eeds account or junk mail.

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Conference ID

J7032

Sponsor

Text logo that says Pennsylvania Immunization Conference

This activity is jointly provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Penn State College of Medicine.

Purpose/Overview

Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Immunization and Penn State College of Medicine presents a conference to bring immunization partners together to share information, discuss current issues and recommend strategies to improve immunization rates in Pennsylvania.

Audience

The Pennsylvania Immunization Conference targets private and public health care professionals from Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. This would include the following:

  • Epidemiologists
  • Family Physicians
  • Health Care Professionals Working with Immunizations
  • Health Educators
  • Immunization Coalitions Members
  • Medical Assistants
  • Medical Students
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Nurses
  • Nursing Students
  • Pediatricians
  • Pharmacists
  • Physicians Assistants
  • Practice Managers
  • Public Health Staff
  • Residents
  • School Nurses

Agenda and Objectives

  • 7:30 a.m. | Check-In, Continental Breakfast, Visit Exhibitors and Networking
  • 8:30 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks
    Thomas McCleaf
    Debra L. Bogen, MD
  • 9 a.m. | Recognition of Pennsylvania’s 2025 Immunization Vaccine Champion Awards
    Debra L. Bogen, MD
  • 9:15 a.m. | 2025 Immunization Schedules Updates
    The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Representative

    Objectives
    • Describe updates to the 2025 Childhood, Adolescent and Adult Immunization Schedules.
    • Describe updates to the routine catch up program for 2024-2025.
  • 10 a.m. | Maternal Health: Importance of Vaccines Before, During, and After Pregnancy
    Amy Whitsel, MD

    Objectives
    • Describe the current CDC recommendations for vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy.
    • Provide tools to address vaccine hesitancy with pregnancy.
  • 10:30 a.m. | Morning Break, Refreshments, Visit Exhibits and Networking
  • 10:45 a.m. | Vaccine Preventable Disease Outbreaks 2025 and Pertussis
    Arlene Seid, MD, MPH, FACPM, CMQ

    Objectives
    • Explain the Epidemiology of Pertussis in Pennsylvania.
    • Review other significant outbreaks of typical Vaccine Preventable Disease.
  • 11:30 a.m. | Improving Student Health by Immunizing at Colleges and Universities
    Catherine O’Neil, MD, FAAFP

    Objectives
    • Discuss the history of vaccines and their role in public health.
    • Describe current trends in vaccine use.
    • Discuss ways to improve vaccine compliance on a college campus.
  • Noon | Lunch, Visit Exhibits and Networking
  • 1 p.m. | There’s an app for that: CDC Vaccine Schedules and PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor Apps
    Deborah Milito, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP and
    Emily Kryger, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP

    Objectives
    • Discuss functionality of the CDC Vaccine Schedule and PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor Apps.
    • Analyze case-based examples using the CDC vaccine mobile apps.
  • 1:30 p.m. | Vaccine Confidence and Uptake
    Jonathan Miller, MD, FAAP

    Objectives
    • Discuss the history of vaccine hesitancy and trends in vaccine confidence.
    • Discuss evidence-based methods and interventions to increase immunization uptake.
    • Discuss public health measures to improve immunization uptake.
  • 2:25 p.m. | B the Voice of Liver Cancer Prevention – Using Storytelling for Hepatitis B Immunization Education
    Michaela Jackson, MPH, MS

    Objectives
    • Explain how to craft and share impactful personal stories that highlight the importance of vaccines, address misinformation, and foster public trust in immunization.
    • Develop the tools to use storytelling as a powerful vehicle for educating audiences on the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer, emphasizing the importance of immunization in prevention efforts.
  • 3 p.m. | Afternoon Break, Refreshments, Visit Exhibits and Networking
  • 3:15 p.m. | Making Office Visits More Sensory Friendly: Immunization Version
    Luciana Randall

    Objectives
    • Discuss three brain differences impacting the sensory system in autistic people of all ages.
    • Discuss how the sensory system in autism is either hypo, hyper, or cross-sensory (synesthetic) across the 8 sensory areas (vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell, balance, proprioception, and interoception).
    • Review at least three specific ways to design a successful immunization visit for people with sensory needs.
  • 4 p.m. | Using Technology to Manage and Optimize Limited Vaccine Supply and Funding
    Jenni Black, MS, PMP

    Objectives
    • Introduce ways to reduce waste and errors utilizing vaccine inventory management systems.
    • Describe how to optimize inventory availability across sites utilizing technology
  • 4:20 p.m. | In-Person Attendee Recognitions and Closing Remarks
    Thomas McCleaf
  • 4:30 p.m. | Adjourn

Presenters

Debra Bogen, MD
Acting Secretary of Health
Pennsylvania Department of Health

Thomas “Tom” McCleaf
Director, Bureau of Immunizations
Pennsylvania Department of Health

Jenni Black, MS, PMP
Chief Operating Officer
Union Community Care

Michaela Jackson, MPH, MS
Program Director
Prevention Policy
Hepatitis B Foundation

Emily Kryger, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP
Owner & Consultant Pharmacist, PharmRecs, LLC
Clinical Pharmacist
UPMC St. Margaret

Deborah Milito, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP
Director of Clinical/Consultant Services-LTC Diamond Pharmacy Services
Chief Antimicrobial Stewardship Officer
Chairman of the Board
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

Jonathan Miller, MD, FAAP
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Thomas Jefferson University
President
Delaware Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics

Catherine O’Neil, MD, FAAFP
Medical Director
Bucknell University

Luciana Randall
Executive Director
Autism Connection of PA

Arlene Seid, MD, MPH, FACPM, CMQ
Public Health Physician
Bureau of Epidemiology
Pennsylvania Department of Health

Amy Whitsel, MD
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician
University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health Graduate Student
Independence Health System

Credit

AMA

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Penn State College of Medicine and The Pennsylvania Department of Health. Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Penn State College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses Using AMA Credit

Nurses will receive a certificate from Penn State College of Medicine verifying their participation in 6.25 hours of approved continuing medical education. Continuing education activities which are approved by accredited institutions of higher education and that are relevant to patient care or professional nursing meet the requirements of mandatory continuing education for registered nurses in Pennsylvania, as required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing recommends that nurses retain their certificates for a period of at least five years. Additional information is available through the State Board of Nursing.

Social Work

Penn State is an approved provider as defined by Pa. Code Sections 47.36(a)(3), 48.36(a)(3), and 49.36(a)(3). Social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors licensed by the state of Pennsylvania can earn 6.25 clock hours of continuing education for completing this course.

ACPE

This activity has applied for ACPE credit.

Fees

The fee is $150 per person for in-person attendance or $75 per person for virtual attendance and includes the cost of instruction, online handout materials and all listed meals.

The first 100 in-person attendance registrants are eligible for an early-bird fee of $130 per person. There is no early-bird registration fee for virtual attendance.

Payment is required at the time of registration. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at ContinuingEd@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Registrations received after Thursday, June 12, will incur a $25 late fee.

Cancellations received after Thursday, June 6, will be assessed a $25 processing fee.

No refunds will be made for cancellations, or switching from in-person to virtual received after Tuesday, June 10.

Accommodations

Accommodations are the responsibility of the program participant. A list of lodging in the Hershey area is available online at ce.med.psu.edu/lodging.

Local attractions

Join us in Hershey

Hershey is conveniently located in central Pennsylvania, just 90 minutes from Baltimore and Philadelphia, two hours from Washington, D.C., and three hours from New York City.

Evaluation

A completed evaluation is required in order to receive a certificate for attending this activity. Please complete and submit the evaluation within the specified time frame.

Cancellations

The University reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund any program registration fees paid but cannot be held responsible for any related costs, charges or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines or travel agencies.

Program registrants who are experiencing illness or have been exposed to anyone who is ill should contact the Continuing Education office before attending any in-person activities.

Changes

Content and speakers for all programs are subject to change. Registrants will be notified of any significant updates.

COVID-19

On-campus educational activities provided by Penn State College of Medicine Continuing Education are required to follow healthcare facility guidelines. Off-campus events provided by Penn State College of Medicine Continuing Education follow the COVID-19 requirements of that venue. We ask that all participants respect that some attendees may still choose to wear masks for activities. Check the venue website for the latest requirements and recommendations. Please do not attend this activity if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. By attending the activity, you attest that you do not have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, which may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste, loss of smell or any other sign of illness.

Access (ADA)

Penn State encourages people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Participants who anticipate needing any type of special accommodation or who have questions about the physical access provided should contact the Continuing Education office at least one week in advance of participation or visit.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest (COI and Educational Balance)

It is Penn State policy to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all educational activities. Penn State has a process in place to mitigate any relevant financial relationships with commercial companies disclosed by faculty, course directors and planning committee members. Complete disclosure information will be provided to participants at the beginning of the activity.

University Nondiscrimination Policy

This publication is available in alternative media on request. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, genetic information, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status and retaliation due to the reporting of discrimination or harassment. Discrimination, harassment or retaliation against faculty, staff or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the Nondiscrimination Policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; 814-863-0471 (TTY). US M.Ed. J7032

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