The NC Immunization Coalition

The North Carolina Immunization Coalition

North Carolina Association of Pharmacists Tapped to Coordinate Statewide Immunization Coalition

The North Carolina Immunization Coalition (NCIC) is a statewide, inter-professional network that organizes and supports efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases. Using a 1997 Kate B. Reynolds grant, NCIC was initially formed out of a partnership between a state health program and the NC Quality Improvement Organization. Over the years, the Coalition has grown and today includes representatives from an array of organizations and health professions. In October 2016 the Coalition underwent a coordination change, whereby the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (NCAP) was selected to continue organizing this group’s important public health initiatives.

This recognition is a significant accolade for our Association, as North Carolina is the first state, to our knowledge, to have its pharmacy association provide the coordination for the state’s Immunization Coalition. Although NCIC is an interprofessional group working together to improve immunization rates across our state, NCAP’s coordinating role helps better illuminate the pharmacist’s role in disease prevention. As an example, since NCAP began serving the Coalition, a pharmacist has now been added to the Coalition’s executive committee. Executive Director Shelton has been working with the NCAP Immunization Task Force to assume some of the logistical duties for future NCIC meetings and statewide communication efforts. Additional information about NCIC, including upcoming meetings, can be found at www.ncpharmcists.org.