A Successful Public/Private Partnership
What is WIN?
The West Virginia Immunization Network (WIN) is a statewide coalition that works to create an environment in West Virginia where every resident is appropriately immunized. WIN envisions a future in which every West Virginian is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases and public health threats, leading to an improved quality of life for all. To achieve our vision, WIN works to foster comprehensive, sustainable state and community policies and practices.
Regional Coalitions
To enable members to become more active in WIN, regional coalitions were established in the Northern, Southern, and Eastern portions of the state. An additional regional coalition is also being developed in Martinsburg. Regional coalitions meet bi-annually in Morgantown, Beckley or Lewisburg, and Martinsburg. All coalition members are invited and encouraged to attend the regional coalition meetings.
WIN’s Work
To improve immunization rates among West Virginians, WIN focuses much of its work on:
- Trainings opportunities for healthcare professionals. WIN offers trainings that feature national and local speakers on a variety of immunization and vaccine-preventable disease topics. Continuing education credits are frequently offered at these trainings for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and pharmacists. The trainings provide attendees with new and up-to-date information on immunizations, recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), disease surveillance, outbreak response, and best practices for improving immunization rates. In addition, the trainings enable participants to develop local networks through which they may work together to improve community vaccination coverage.
- Parent, patient and community education. Immunizations have become a victim of their own success. Due to their effectiveness, many dangerous illnesses have been eliminated or drastically reduced, saving lives and sparing countless families. However, as a result, our collective memories have lost the painful reality of polio, measles, meningitis, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Many people feel a false sense of security, a misconception that these diseases are merely harmless relics of the past. Thus, to provide information to the public about the importance of vaccination, WIN has developed a variety of educational materials, including adolescent and adult posters, postcards, and brochures; electronic toolkits; and more that are available at no cost throughout WV.
