Over the past few months, the Missouri Immunization Coalition (MIC), in collaboration with its partners, has been proud to host the Jab Gab Webinar Series, a series designed to deepen our understanding of childhood vaccinations and enhance the ability of healthcare professionals to improve vaccination rates in their communities. This series of informative, expert-led webinars has been a tremendous success, providing valuable insights and actionable strategies for practitioners, caregivers, and public health professionals alike.

Throughout the series, we’ve had the privilege of hosting six enlightening webinars, each focused on critical aspects of immunization and childhood health. These sessions were designed to ensure that participants could:

  • Describe the significance of completing the childhood recommended vaccination schedule, including both public health implications and individual health benefits.
  • Differentiate evidence-based interventions (EBIs) that increase vaccination completion rates among children.
  • Implement strategies to improve childhood vaccination rates within their own practices and communities.

Let’s take a moment to recap the six outstanding sessions:

  1. Leaf the Viruses at Home: Pediatric Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations
    Speaker: Dr. Laura Morris, Chief Medical Officer at Ambulatory Care and William C. Allen Professor of Family & Community Medicine
    Recorded on: October 8, 2024
    Dr. Morris delivered a comprehensive look at the importance of vaccinating children against both influenza and COVID-19, offering practical insights for improving vaccination uptake and addressing concerns.
  2. Sharing Isn’t Always Caring: An Overview of the Routine Childhood Immunization Schedule
    Speakers: Dr. Bernie Eskridge and Dr. James Eikermann
    Recorded on: October 22, 2024
    This session, led by two experts in pediatrics and family medicine, highlighted the routine childhood vaccination schedule and its critical role in protecting children from preventable diseases.
  3. Punt Away Respiratory Illness: RSV/Pneumococcal Vaccination
    Speaker: Dr. Jason Newland, Division Chief of Infectious Diseases at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
    Recorded on: November 12, 2024
    Dr. Newland shared key insights on respiratory illnesses like RSV and pneumonia, discussing the importance of vaccination in preventing these diseases and protecting pediatric populations.
  4. The Best Gift You Can Give Your Patients: How to Address Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy
    Speakers: Dr. Amy Braddock and Dr. Christine Wilson
    Recorded on: December 3, 2024
    This session tackled the growing issue of pediatric vaccine hesitancy, offering strategies for healthcare providers to effectively engage families and build trust in vaccinations.
  5. Resolve to Prevent Cancer: HPV and Adolescent Vaccine Schedules
    Speaker: Dr. Michelle Silver
    Recorded on: January 7, 2025
    Dr. Silver emphasized the importance of the HPV vaccine as part of the adolescent vaccine schedule, offering evidence and recommendations on preventing HPV-related cancers.
  6. Show Your Love With Lifelong Immunity: Addressing Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy
    Speaker: Dr. Taylor Nelson
    Recorded on: February 4, 2025
    Dr. Nelson closed the series with a timely discussion on overcoming pediatric vaccine hesitancy, focusing on how providers can encourage families to prioritize lifelong immunity through vaccination.

Each of these sessions was recorded and made available to participants, ensuring that the wealth of knowledge shared could be revisited and applied in real-world practice.

We are deeply grateful to all the expert speakers who have contributed their time and expertise to this series, as well as to all the healthcare professionals who joined us for these enlightening webinars.

As we reflect on the success of the Jab Gab Webinar Series, we’re excited to announce that more webinars are in the works! We look forward to continuing this important dialogue and providing even more opportunities for education, collaboration, and action.

Stay tuned for future webinars that will help strengthen our collective efforts to build healthier communities and ensure that every child receives the full benefit of vaccination.

Thank you again to everyone who participated, and we can’t wait to see you at our next event!

Jab Gab Webinar Series Presented by:

  • Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Project
  • Missouri Immunization Coalition
  • Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services – Bureau of Immunization
  • Continuing Education for Health Professions
    MU School of Medicine | MU Sinclair School of Nursing | MU Extension