Operation Immunization, a national immunization awareness campaign, designed and implemented by the American Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Students of Pharmacy (APhA-ASP) and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), facilitated the delivery of approximately 50,000 vaccinations and educated many more about the importance of receiving their immunizations.

The goal of the program is to make the community aware of immunization information and to inform them about the role of the pharmacist in immunization delivery. Despite the delay in vaccine supply, APhA-ASP and SNPhA chapters were able to provide critical information about immunizations to their communities. Chapters were able to secure vaccine supply and community providers by working with the local and state public health departments, offering vaccinations to those most at risk first.

Half of the 82 APhA-ASP chapters participated in the project during 2000. Examples of innovative approaches utilized this year were focusing on home-less shelters, senior citizen centers, churches, grocery stores, university health services, and collaboration with a variety of other health care professionals.

The following 42 chapters actively participated in the 2000-200 1 Operation Immunization campaign:

Region 1: University of Rhode Island, State University of New York-Buffalo;

Region 2: Duquesne University, University of Pittsburgh, Shenandoah University, Howard University;

Region 3: University of Florida, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Mercer University, Campbell University, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, University of Georgia, University of Puerto Rico;

Region 4: University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, Ferris State University, Butler University, University of Kentucky, Wayne State University, Midwestern University-Chicago, The Ohio State University;

Region 5: South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, University of Minnesota;

Region 6: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Houston, Texas Southern University, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Texas-Austin, Texas Tech University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy;

Region 7: Idaho State University, University of Washington, Washington State University, Oregon State University;

Region 8: University of Arizona, University of California-San Francisco, University of the Pacific, University of Southern California.

The national winner and eight regional winners were announced at the APhA-ASP Opening General Session, March 17, during the 2001 APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Francisco, California. The Following Chapters were selected as the 200 1 Operation Immunization Regional Winners:

Region 1: University of Rhode Island

Region 2: Duquesne University

Region 3: University of South Carolina

Region 4: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Region 5: University of Nebraska Medical Center

Region 6: University of Missouri-Kansas City

Region 7: Idaho State University Region 8: University of the Pacific

The 2001 Operation Immunization National Winner is the University of Tennessee [UT]. The University launched its Operation Immunization campaign in October and completed it in late December. UT’s "Boo Flu" occurred campus-wide while the chapter also provided education and vaccinations to under served counties through "Immunization Blitz." UT provided a total of 2740 immunizations and educated thousands more directly due to Operation Immunization.

The University of Tennessee is representing the efforts of both APhA-ASP and SNPhA chapters nationwide at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Immunization Conference in May in Atlanta, Georgia.

Source: The American Pharmaceutical Association, www.aphanet.org