Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Receive Excellence in Immunization Award for Infection Control and Influenza Program

May 26, 2010 – The Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC) has awarded Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a non-profit, multi-specialty medical group practice proving care to more than 480,000 patients at more than 21 locations across eastern Massachusetts, with the “Excellence in Immunization” award for their Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan.

The plan, which was an organization-wide effort to respond to the H1N1 flu pandemic and implement a massive immunization outreach campaign to patients, enabled Harvard Vanguard to dispense more than 196,000 doses of seasonal and H1N1 vaccine to patients and staff between September 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.

Key components of Harvard Vanguard’s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan included surge capacity planning through regional flu vaccine clinics, real-time data collection and analysis for decision-support dashboard, broad staff communication and extensive patient vaccine outreach and education. 

“We are honored to have received such an award from the MAIC,” said Dr. Gene Lindsey, Harvard Vanguard president and CEO. “Our Infection Control and Influenza Program team – led by Dr. Benjamin Kruskal (Director), Richard Flannery PA-C (Administrator), Linda C. Foote PhD (Manager), and Teresa Pecoraro MPH (Coordinator) – did an excellent job of implementing the plan and successfully reaching patients to provide them with proper care.”