Under the supervision of the Disease Control Supervisor, plans, develops, and administers the department’s immunization program in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Health Department and in compliance with state and federal standards, policies, and guidelines. Directs the professional nursing staff who provide immunization services to clients within the community. Develops annual immunization guidelines, establishes immunization standards, policies, and procedures for the Immunization Clinic and the Health Department, and implements the standards set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) for the Vaccine for Children federal vaccine program. Monitors vaccine inventory and vaccine storage and handling and oversees vaccine distribution to VFC participating providers. Acts as an immunization advocate in the community to promote safe and effective administration of vaccines.
Essential Functions
1. Directs the immunization component of the Disease Control Office including participating in the employment process, overseeing and participating in training, and assigning and scheduling work. Intercedes with difficult clients, and assists with operational or procedural inquiries. Assists the Disease Control Supervisor with employee evaluations.
2. Resolves unusual or difficult situations that are not covered by immunization guidelines or department policy and procedures.
3. Plans, develops, administers, and evaluates immunization services to ensure conformance with the goals and objectives of the department and minimum program requirements. Reviews immunization statistics and projects staffing needs to safely and efficiently cover the immunization walk-in clinic and monthly offsite clinics.
4. Ensures that there is adequate professional development and in-service training for all staff.
5. Collects data on Immunization Clinic and Travel Clinic activities and makes recommendations to the Disease Control Supervisor for suggested changes. Collects data from clients when they have adverse events to vaccines administered.
6. Responds to emergency situations in clinics. Reviews incident reports completed by staff. Forwards reports to the Disease Control Supervisor.
7. Serves as an immunization specialist for the department. Keeps current on immunization matters. Responds to immunization questions and concerns from the general public, health care providers and their staff, school staff, staff from the State of Michigan immunization program, staff from other local health departments and the staff at the Ingham County Health Department.
8. Plans, develops, and presents immunization education programs to medical and nursing students, medical assistants, nurses, physicians, and other health care workers. Consults with MDCH staff as they develop new inservice programs and pilots those programs. Schedules immunization training inservices. Represents the Health Department at conferences either as a presenter or a trouble-shooting panelist.
9. Responsible for the safe storage and handling of biologics at the Health Department, ensuring that refrigerators and freezers are working and arranging for maintenance and repair as necessary. Works with the health centers to implement emergency policy for vaccine storage and handling.
10. Works with provider staff, both private and Health Department, when there is a loss of vaccine through expiration or temperature extremes. Calls manufacturers of vaccines to determine if the vaccine has to be destroyed or if it can be used.
11. Reviews vaccine inventory with staff on a monthly basis for federal vaccines and places orders with MDCH for vaccines. Completes the purchase order for travel vaccines and submits to the Disease Control Supervisor.
12. Works to ensure the Immunization Department meets OSHA and state accreditation standards.
13. Plans, schedules, staffs, and orders influenza vaccine for seasonal influenza vaccine clinics. Arranges for temporary nursing staff to assist with the additional workload and educates them. Ensures there is an adequate supply of influenza vaccine at the health centers.
14. Works with the immunization clinic nursing staff to annually update, review and present updated immunization guidelines. Ensures guidelines meet CDC and ACIP recommendations. Ensures compliance with standards and policies.
15. Provides the community with the most current immunization information and responds to requests from groups.
16. Educates residents of the community about the Michigan Childhood Immunization Registry. Meets with private provider staff to answer questions about immunizations, the VFC program, and the MCIR. Contacts provider staff and addresses immunization practice issues that arise. May deny VFC providers access to federal vaccine if they fail to correct immunization practice concerns. Participates on the Region III MCIR advisory committee.
17. Ensures that client records are kept secure and confidential and maintained consistent with Health Department policies and procedures and HIPAA standards.
18. Provides staffing assistance to the Disease Control Section.
19. Assists and directs staff with mass vaccination programs or tuberculosis testing in event of community disease or outbreak.
An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the above tasks. (These examples do not include all of the tasks which the employees may be expected to perform.)
Employment Qualifications
Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
Experience: Three years of immunization specific nursing experience including routine pediatric and adult vaccines, international travel vaccines, vaccine safety issues, immigration rules, school rules, Federal and State rules, MCIR and VFC program rules.
Other Requirements: Possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Michigan.
The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.
Requirements and Working Conditions
Physical Requirements: [This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements]:
Restraining children while administering vaccinations.
Stooping and bending to examine clients.
Ability to lift, carry, and transport equipment and supplies.
Ability to access office files.
Ability to enter and access information using a computer.
Travels to other locations in the community.
Working Conditions:
Works in office and clinic conditions.
Often works under very disruptive conditions.
Exposure to communicable diseases and blood and other bodily fluids.
12/2/03
NP/CN-05
