August 19, 2024, Press Release from the Area Agency on Aging 3: Lima, OH – Area Agency on Aging 3 and USAging in Washington, D.C. have been awarded the 2024 Immunization Neighborhood Champion Award by the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) for their work through the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative.
The NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organizations towards improved vaccination rates within their communities during the past year.
Area Agency on Aging 3 is a founding member of the ADVC, which works with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and other community-based organizations (CBOs) nationwide with a network of over 1,400 partner organizations to increase the number of older adults and people with disabilities who receive COVID-19 and Influenza (flu) vaccines.
The ADVC is led by USAging, which represents and supports the national network of AAAs and advocates for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs that help older adults and people with disabilities live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities.
Since May 2023, Area Agency on Aging 3 and other ADVC partners have administered more than 378,000 COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Approximately 11 percent were given to people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time. Additionally, ADVC partners have administered 112,000 RSV, shingles, pneumococcal and other vaccines. They also provided 441,000 supportive services such as transportation to vaccine clinics, assistance with appointments and information and referral to aging and disability resources.
“Area Agency on Aging 3 is grateful to have partnered with USAging as the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative. It has allowed our agency to promote healthy aging and to ensure older adults and people with disabilities have access to vaccinations through vaccine education activities, community vaccine clinics, in-home vaccination offerings, and outreach and education toward older adults and people with disabilities,” Area Agency on Aging 3’s Population Health Director Dre White said.
“In 2023, Area Agency on Aging 3 was able to encourage our communities to #CheckItOff and because of these efforts and thanks to ADVC funding, AAA3 was able to help facilitate 69 clinics that administered 5,651 vaccines. We are very proud of this work and thankful for this collaboration as our office values the health and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities while also understanding that older adults are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from diseases such as flu, COVD, shingles, RSV, pneumonia, and more,” White also stated.
“It’s an incredible honor for USAging’s ADVC to be recognized with this award by the NAIIS,” said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. “It’s a testament to the power of this collaborative and the critical role that AAAs, CILs and CBOs play in promoting life-saving vaccinations which are a centerpiece of health and healthy aging for all of us.”
The ADVC also works with more than 20 national partners with expertise in areas such as autism, LBGTQ+ issues and ethnically diverse older adults to best serve people with different or unique needs.
Area Agency on Aging 3 is excited to continue these efforts and expand the reach to local communities in 2024 and is working to again schedule convenient clinics and vaccine events throughout the 7-county region, that includes; Allen Auglaize, Hancock, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert.
USAging’s ADVC is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through USAging as part of a financial assistance award to USAging totaling $74,999,835 with 100-percent funding by ACL/HHS.
Please contact Area Agency on Aging 3’s office or check www.aaa3.org for dates of upcoming events!
Individuals interested in more information about Area Agency on Aging 3 can go to the agency website at www.aaa3.org or call the agency’s Aging and Disability Resource Center at 419-222-7723.
