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PORTLAND, Maine

Grant aims to improve child health in southern Maine by exploring access to immunizations and community resources

Christopher Pezzullo, D.O., a pediatrician and chief medical officer at University Health Care and assistant professor of pediatrics at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, has been awarded a 2012 Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) planning grant to explore ways to improve access to immunizations and health screenings for children in Cumberland County, Maine's most populated and ethnically diverse community.  

Funded by the American Academy of Pediatrics, CATCH grants aim to engage physicians in working on community health projects focused on rural and/or low-income, medically underserved children in their local areas. 

Immunizations are one of the most cost-effective child health prevention activities, yet Maine's immunization rates are decreasing.  In 2010, only 67 percent of children 19-35 months were up to date on the majority of recommended childhood immunizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2010 National Immunization Survey. 

"Research suggests that providing vaccinations at alternative sites, such as schools and childcare facilities, can increase access to vaccinations.  This project is a first step toward gathering more evidence with the ultimate goal being to increase childhood immunization rates in Maine," says Pezzullo.

The project will engage a wide range of community partners to explore ways to decrease barriers to needed health care services, such as childhood immunizations, and connect families to health insurance programs and medical practices.  The project staff will also solicit input from local parents and health care providers through focus groups and interviews. 

Current partners include: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Local Public Health; American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter; Maine Medical Partners; HomeHealth Visiting Nurses; Portland Public Schools; Maine Primary Care Association; the People's Regional Opportunity Program (Opportunity Alliance); and St. Elizabeth's Child Development Center (Catholic Charities Maine).

MaineHealth collaborated with Pezzullo on the grant and will be working with him on project activities.  "This grant is a great example of collaboration in pursuit of improved health for all Maine children," says Deborah Deatrick, Vice President of Community Health at MaineHealth. "Dr. Pezzullo's leadership on this project will allow us to learn more about what is needed to ensure all Maine children have access to timely immunizations."

Pezzullo adds,  "By working collaboratively, we can help meet the needs of families and improve children's health in southern Maine through education and improved access to immunizations, insurance programs and other important community resources."

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.