Each year, the Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference planning committee selects the Adult Immunization Champion Award winner based on a nomination and review process. The review committee looks for nominees who have shown leadership, innovation, collaboration, advocacy, and initiative in adult immunization. We are pleased to announce this year’s awardee, Heidi Bedard, LPN.
Heidi is the Clinical Coordinator of Vaccine Management at Family Health Center of Worcester, and her achievement will be recognized during the 26th Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.
Described by her colleagues as a “tireless champion of immunizations for the patients who receive care at FHCW,” Ms. Bedard is responsible for many initiatives encouraging adult immunization. Her meticulous planning resulted in FHCW providing over 3,425 flu vaccines to low-income, culturally diverse patients in need – almost tripling last year’s adult flu vaccination count of 1,250. She and her team accomplished this through establishing a walk-in, 6-day a week community-based flu clinic and engaging in community outreach efforts.
Heidi also initiated efforts to decrease duplicate patient records for FHCW in the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS). Since March 2020, Ms. Bedard has decreased the duplicate patient records in the MIIS for FHCW from over 15,000 records to zero records. Heidi continues to innovate and is implementing a booster vaccination catch-up program for adults ages 18-35. Given the increased urgency of access to the flu vaccine this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the logistical barriers the pandemic presented, Heidi’s accomplishments are truly astounding.
Visit the calendar to get more information on the 2021 Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference.