Press Releases: National
January 10, 2005
Kaiser Permanente Donation Aims to Improve Colorado's Childhood Immunization Rate
Health plan giving $315,000 to Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition
Denver, Colo. – In an effort to improve the health of our community, Kaiser Permanente Colorado today donated $315,000 to the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition to improve the immunization rates of the state's children.
The Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition works collaboratively with more than 50 health organizations and individuals to get children immunized while at the same time improving public health. Kaiser Permanente's donation will expand the number of safety clinics, by up to ten, which are connected to the Colorado Immunization Information System. This system gives providers better knowledge so children get the next appropriate shots despite the unavailability of medical records. These clinics serve children without insurance or those who are underinsured. It also will expand the number of providers who use a system to remind parents of immunizations that are due or past due.
"It's no secret that Colorado rates last in the nation in childhood immunizations," said Marti Sharp, director of the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition. "This donation will perhaps make its greatest impact in improving that rating and in doing so, improve the health of the state's children."
The National Immunization Survey (NIS) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Colorado 50th in the nation in childhood immunizations. The NIS provides estimates of vaccination coverage among children aged 19--35 months for each of the 50 states and 28 selected urban areas.
The donation is among $2.65 million that Kaiser Permanente Colorado recently gave to various community health programs including the American Heart Association, Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation, the Alzheimer's Association and the University of Colorado. Nearly half of that money was given to the Kaiser Permanente Community Health Fund established at the Denver Foundation to provide funding for other nonprofit community health initiatives.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
