ACHE MN Vaccination Panel Discussion

COVID-19: Vaccine Considerations Past and Present

April 2nd, 2021

12pm-1:30pm (1.5 Qualified Credit Only)

COVID-19 has been a challenge worldwide as an unforeseen pandemic that will leave a world with lifelong changes both in good and many unfortunate ways. As a pandemic that hit the world so fast the opportunity to prepare for and treat it like any other seasonal vaccination caused for many challenges in the identification, testing, approvals and administering a vaccination. As vaccinations were just approved in late 2020 the efforts to administer these to the masses in the least amount of time became the new challenge. This not only included establishing a protocol for the hierarchy of distribution but was further complicated by the ability to acquire and store the vaccination. As a further challenge, like any other vaccination, is reaching underserved populations.

Other emerging issues:

• How do we inform the public about the importance and safety of this vaccination?
• How can aspects of our public health organizations help reach the underserved?
• What can be leveraged in the way we can improve health care equity?
• What opportunities or lessons learned might inform us of how to prepare for such an outbreak in the future?
• What new services and programs can be applied to other aspects of health care and disparities?

Moderator: David Voller, Senior Operational Planner, BWBR

Panelist: Kris Ehresmann, Director, Infectious Disease Epidimiology, Prevention, and Control, Minnesota Department of Health

Panelist: Naomi Windham, Family Nurse Practioner, Hennepin County Public Health

Panelist: Rick Breuer, CEO/Administrator, Community Memorial Hospital – Cloquet

Panelist: Dr. Margaret “Meg” Frazer, Senior Director, Vaccines Medical Director, Pfizer

This is will be a free event for members, $30 for non-members and $15 for non-member students.

*We are not allowed to record this session so please take advantage of this opportunity in real-time.

Bios

Kristen Ehresmann, RN, MPH

Kristen Ehresmann is an epidemiologist and director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division at the Minnesota Department of Health. In this role, she has oversight for 250 staff members. She oversees the HIV/STD, tuberculosis, refugee health, and immunization programs as well as emerging infections, healthcare associated infections, antibiotic resistance, foodborne, vectorborne, waterborne and zoonotic disease activities. Ms. Ehresmann has led numerous outbreak investigations, published in peer review journals and been an invited speaker at national meetings.

Ms. Ehresmann received her bachelor of science in nursing from St. Olaf College and her master of public health in epidemiology from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health. She holds an adjunct instructor position at the University of Minnesota and is a community faculty member at Metropolitan State University. Ms. Ehresmann is a member of Delta Omega National Public Health Honorary Society and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Ms. Ehresmann’s research and publications have focused on vaccine-preventable disease in both children and adults. She is currently a member of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Infectious Disease Policy Committee. Ms. Ehresmann was a voting member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices from 2008-2012. She is a member of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (2013-present, liaison member to 2020) and the Healthcare Infection Control and Prevention Advisory Committee (2018 to present). Ms. Ehresmann is a member of the Council for Outbreak Response: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens (AR).

Naomi Windham, NP

Naomi Windham is a nurse practitioner with Hennepin County Health Care for the Homeless. She provides medical care at clinics within the shelter system and as a medical provider for the Hennepin County COVID isolation hotels. Her interests include women’s health, homelessness, racial disparities in health care and diabetes management.

Rick Breuer

Rick Breuer is a healthcare executive with over 29 years of experience in leadership roles spanning various healthcare settings. Rick is currently the CEO at Community Memorial Hospital and Sunnyside Health Care Center in Cloquet, Minnesota, where he has been since 1999. During his tenure, CMH has more than quadrupled in size and scope of services, and is positioned as a regional provider of a broad spectrum of services. Rick also serves on a number of local and statewide healthcare committees and advisory groups advocating on behalf of rural, independent healthcare providers and the people they serve. Rick is also heavily involved in local education, serving on local higher education advisory councils and personally speaking to more than a dozen 8th grade classrooms in Carlton County each year through a Chamber sponsored program and to high school students throughout the region about healthcare careers on an annual basis.

Dr. Margaret Frazer

Dr. Margaret Frazer is a physician in Pfizer Medical Affairs, Vaccine Medicine Senior Medical Director . She earned her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Frazer completed an internship in Internal Medicine at University of Iowa before serving a residency in Neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine. She also completed an epilepsy mini-fellowship at Wake Forest and neuromuscular training at the Geisinger Clinic. Dr. Frazer continues to maintain a practice in neurology outside of Pfizer.

Dr. Frazer’s professional interests include Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases, clinical research, and patient disease state management. She also started and currently organizes the Central Indiana Neuropathy Support Group and is on the board of directors of the Indiana MS Foundation.