APA SIG: Immunization | Building Bridges, Lessons Learned on the Path to Promoting Vaccine Equity and Improving Vaccine Access

Saturday, April 26, 2025

7:00am – 8:30am HST

Location: Convention Center: 302

CE: 1.5

SIG Chair(s)

David Higgins, MD, MPH

Instructor of Pediatrics
University Of Colorado School Of Medicine
Centennial, Colorado, United States
Shannon Baumer-Mouradian, MD

Associate Professor
Pediatrics
Medical College of Wisconsin
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States

Disclosure(s):

David Higgins, MD, MS: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Shannon H. Baumer-Mouradian, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Health equity is a primary mission for health care delivery and research. In this session we will describe the current state of pediatric vaccine uptake nationwide, and the health disparities that persist. A panel of vaccine delivery and research experts will share successful strategies to promote vaccine equity for underserved and minority pediatric populations. Attendees will have an opportunity to apply the lessons learned from the panelist to develop an individualized action plan to incorporate health equity into their own vaccine delivery and research efforts.

Panelists will include Ms. Julissa Soto, CEO and Founder of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting, Dr. Joshua Williams, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Denver Health Colorado, Dr. Ashley Davis, Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico, and Mr. Ronald Balajadia, Hawaii Immunization Program Branch Chief, Hawaii Department of Health.

Learning Objectives:

1) Describe key trends in disparities in pediatric vaccine acceptance nationwide.
2) Describe successful strategies to engage the community and promote vaccine acceptance for underserved and minority pediatric populations.
3) Develop an action plan to incorporate health equity into their vaccine research and quality improvement programs.

Presentations:

7:00am – 7:15am HST

The Current State of Pediatric Vaccine Uptake Nationwide, and the Health Disparities That Persist
SIG Speaker: David Higgins, MD, MPH – University Of Colorado School Of Medicine
7:15am – 7:30am HST

The Power of Cultural Validation- Vaccine Equity
SIG Speaker: Julissa Soto (she/her/hers) – children Hospital-Colorado
7:30am – 7:45am HST

Using the Pediatric ED to Vaccinate in a Rural, Minority-majority State
SIG Speaker: Ashley Davis, D.O. (she/her/hers) – University of New Mexico School of Medicine
7:45am – 8:00am HST

A Multi-level Framework for Improving Vaccination Equity Within Communities
SIG Speaker: Joshua T. Williams, MD (he/him/his) – Denver Health
8:00am – 8:15am HST

Addressing Health Equity Vaccine Work in Hawaii
SIG Speaker: Ronald Balajadia, MS – Hawaii Department of Health Immunization Branch
8:15am – 8:30am HST

All Teach- all Learn: Incorporating Health Equity into Research and Vaccine Delivery
SIG Speaker: Shannon H. Baumer-Mouradian, MD – Medical College of Wisconsin