Purpose Statement
A collaboration of representatives from clinical settings, public health, health plans, professional organizations, educational institutions, community-based organizations and others invested in the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the District of Columbia.
- To advise the DOH in planning, implementing and evaluating immunization activities;
- To provide leadership in communicating and disseminating information to enhance immunization education, awareness, advocacy, and;
- To provide feedback and support for new immunization initiatives.
History
In January 2001, the DC Public Schools (DCPS) Immunization Task Force was formed to address the high immunization non-compliance rate among DCPS students. The charge for the committee was later held by the DC Department of Healthcare Finance (DHCF) and was focused on increasing immunization compliance among the District’s Medicaid participants. In December 2015, the DC Department of Health worked with multiple stakeholders to establish the DC Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) which will focus on immunizations across the lifespan.
Operating Procedures
- Operating Procedures for the District of Columbia Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) (PDF)
Roles and Responsibilities
Members
Voting Membership
Voting Membership of the Advisory Committee will include statewide representation with a commitment to diversity from individuals who have a professional investment in providing best practices as it relates to immunization services. Specifically, the Advisory Committee shall include representation from, but not limited to, the following groups:
- Adolescent health care provider
- Adult medical practice provider
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), DC Chapter
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), DC Chapter
- Community-based organizations
- DC Board of Pharmacy
- DC Department of Health Leadership
- DC Department of Healthcare Finance Leadership
- DC Nurses Association (DCNA)
- DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA)
- DC Public Schools Leadership
- District of Columbia Association of Health Plans (DCAHP)
- District of Columbia School Nurses Association (NASN)
- Major medical, educational institution
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners (NAPNAP)
- Officer of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Leadership Organizations representing diverse racial and ethnic cultures
- Private medical practice provider
- University/College health services representative
Name |
Voting Organization |
Audrey Williams |
DC Public Charter School Board |
Charlissa Quick |
DOH, School Health Division |
Clement Idun |
OSSE |
Cynthia Pellegrini |
March of Dimes |
Dr. Diana Lapp |
Unity Health Care |
Diana Bruce |
DC Public Schools |
Davene White |
Howard University |
Felecia Stovall |
DC Health Care Finance |
Gwendolyn Young |
DC Primary Care Association |
Judy Brinckerhoff |
Private School Nurse, National Association of School Nurses |
Elizabeth McDermott |
Private School Nurse, National Association of School Nurses |
Dr. Lavdena Orr, Chair-Elect |
Private Community Practitioner |
Dr. Linda Fu, Chair Dr. Nancy Schoenfeld |
American Academy of Pediatrics, DC Chapter |
Dr. Mark Weissman |
Children’s National Medical Center |
Nancy Ejuma Rodriquez |
DOH Immunization Program |
Rich Greenaway Dena Penner |
Immunization Coalition of Washington, DC |
Dr. Walter Faggett |
DC Medical Association |
Liaison Membership
Liaison membership comes from a variety of health care professions (e.g., physicians, nurses, local health officials) who have a professional investment in providing best practices in immunization services. Members also represent a variety of organizations including K-12 and post-secondary schools, health care, and public health. Each liaison member is required to participate on one (1) of the eight (8) IPAC Subcommittees.
Subcommittees (Liaison Members)
Name |
Chair and Chair-Elect |
Population Newborn and Early Childhood (Ages 0-4) |
Donna Sheler, Childhood Immunization Coordinator, DOHIP Jessica Duncan, Health Specialist, DCPS Head Start |
Population School Age (Ages 5-18) |
LaJuan Gorham, School Health Liaison, DOH School Health Division Elizabeth McDermott, School Nurse, Georgetown Day School |
Population Adult (Ages 19-64) |
Kim Greenwood, Adult Immunization Coordinator, DOHIP Ledwin Eyoyibo, Public Health Analyst, DOHIP |
Population Older Adult (Age 65 ) |
Jennifer Thomas, Project Lead Medication Safety/Quality-Immunizations, Delmarva Foundation Jackie Robinson, Public Health Analyst, DOHIP |
Functional Immunization Providers |
Jacob Mbafor, VFC Coordinator, DOHIP |
Functional Insurers (DHCF and Private Health Plans) |
Rosie McLaren, CDC Public Health Advisor, DOHIP |
Functional DOCIIS |
Ezra “OJ” Balijar, Data Systems Coordinator DOHIP Viraj Shetty IT Consultant, DOH Information Technology |
Functional Emergency Preparedness |
Sharon Pellum, Special Operations Coordinator, DOH HEPRA Fawad Ahmed, IT Project Manager, DOHIP |
IPAC Fact Sheet
Meetings
The Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) meets quarterly to discuss immunization practice-related issues and to develop recommendations and guidance.
- Thursday, April 14, 2016
- Thursday, June 30, 2016
- Thursday, September 29, 2016
- Thursday, December 15, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Location: Department of Health, Immunization Program
77 P Street NE
Conflict of Interest Policy
In order for the Department of Health to pursue its mission and to maintain its reputation with the public and health care providers, it is important that the decisions and actions of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) not be duly influenced by the special interests of individual members.
Accordingly, the IPAC has adopted the following Conflict of Interest Policy:
Decisions made by committee members should always be based solely on the best interest of the department and the citizens of the District of Columbia. Decisions should not be influenced by personal financial interest or by other extraneous considerations. Any affiliation with an organization having fundamental goals that conflict with the department and IPAC mission should be avoided. Any current, previous (within two years), or potential future conflict of interest should be disclosed at the beginning of each IPAC meeting.
A potential conflict of interest exists when a committee member has a relationship or engages in any activity, or has any personal financial interest which might impair his/her independence or judgment or inappropriately influences his/her decisions or actions concerning IPAC matters.
A potential conflict of interest exists and should be disclosed if the committee member:
- Has a relationship with an entity that benefits financially from the sale of vaccines, such as a consultancy, servicing on a speakers bureau, receiving honoraria, research, and/or travel support.
- Owns a material financial interest in any business that provides or seeks to provide goods or services to the department.
- Serves as an officer or participates on the board or committees of other related professional societies that receive direct financial benefit from the sale of vaccines.
- Has an affiliation with an organization that has a financial interest in IPAC recommendations.
- Has an affiliation with an organization that has a competing activity.
Each committee member has a high duty and obligation to disclose to the entire committee any potential conflict of interest and to abstain from any decision where a significant conflict of interest exists. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the entire committee to determine what, if any, limitations on activities concerning the committee member’s conflict are required to protect the IPAC.
News
IPAC members can collaborate, manage tasks, projects, and documents in a secure cloud-based workspace by using “Huddle”, https://login.huddle.net
District of Columbia Department of Health - http://doh.dc.gov/
DC Department of Health Immunization Program - http://doh.dc.gov/service/immunization
Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) - www.immunize.org
Every Child By Two (ECBT) – www.ecbt.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov
Contacts for IPAC Members
Jacquelyn Campbell, RN, CPNP
Nurse Specialist/ Clinical Services Coordinator
IPAC Coordinator
77 P Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 576-9324
Fax: (202) 654-6169
Email: [email protected]
Dena Penner
Every Child by Two/Immunization Coalition of Washington, DC
IPAC Subcommittee Coordinator
1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 403
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 783-7034
Fax: (202) 783-7042
Email: [email protected]