Immunization Action Coalition of Washington

Since1994, the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) has been working to promote immunizations through outreach, legislative advocacy, provider education, material development, and community meetings with key leaders.

The IACW is comprised of diverse public and private interests including representatives from state and local public health, professional associations, hospitals, healthcare professionals, community organizations and private business/corporations.

The goals of the coalition are to coordinate statewide efforts to:

• Increase and sustain public awareness about the importance of immunizations across the lifespan in preventing disease, disability and death.
• Promote optimal immunization of all children, especially before two years of age, and particularly in those areas where there is the most need, based on current epidemiology.
• Assure improved timely access to immunizations for infants, children, adolescents and adults.
• Educate policy-makers, payers, health care providers, school personnel, parents, and other care providers about vaccines, vaccine preventable diseases, and the cost benefit of timely immunization.
• Encourage community participation at the grassroots level to strengthen and enhance current immunization outreach efforts.
• Build better communication links between and among Coalition members and organizations.

The IACW welcomes new members to partner with the Coalition's efforts and goals. For more information or to get involved, visit the IACW website, or call Ginny Heller, Immunization Program Manager at (206) 830-5168 or email at ginnyh@withinreachwa.org.