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Immunization Presentation

Just as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is on the rise in the US, medical assisting students in the Clinical Medical Assisting class at the Columbus Campus, were privy to education on immunizations by an expert, Denice Abbott - a registered nurse for the Columbus Public Health Department. Ms. Abbott gave a great presentation on immunizations. Denice feels that if healthcare providers have a better understanding of communicable diseases they can better educate their patients on the importance of immunizations.

With the controversy surrounding immunizations, the message Denice wanted to get through was based on advice Dr. Melinda Wharton with the CDC gave about the subject. “Immunization is the wall that keeps the disease away from the community, and if the wall comes down, the diseases come back.” For example, polio has been eradicated in the United States due to aggressive immunization practices. If the US stopped offering the polio vaccine, it is quite possible that we would see cases of this debilitating disease return.

A couple of interesting facts were passed on to the students and they were given instruction on administering immunizations. They were also allowed to practice their injection technique. Denice said that the students asked great questions which reflected that they had a good working knowledge of the various diseases discussed.

Students Dominique Robinson (left) and Mary Stewart (right) are pictured practicing their injection technique.