2021 Howard L. Bost
Memorial Health Policy Forum

Presented by Aetna Better Health of Kentucky

Vaccines provide a remarkably safe and highly effective measure for preventing numerous serious and highly infectious diseases, as well as millions of deaths, in the United States and worldwide every year.

Yet, numerous studies and polls have found a growing rate of vaccine hesitancy in America, a trend that expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 2021 Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum explored the reasons behind increasing vaccine hesitation, as well as effective strategies that health advocates, health care providers and public agencies can use to increase recommended vaccine uptake in Kentucky.

September 20, 2021

Welcome Session — Watch It
Welcome: Ben Chandler, president/CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
Sponsor: Paige Mankovich, Chief Operating Officer, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky

State of Vaccines in Kentucky — Watch It
Introduction: Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, Director, Office of Health Equity, Kentucky Department for Public Health 
Remarks: Steven J. Stack, MD, Commissioner, Kentucky Department for Public Health

Vaccine Hesitancy — Watch It
Moderator: Brent Wright, MD, Associate Dean for Rural Health Innovation, University of Louisville
Panelists:

  • Monalisa Tailor, MD, President, Greater Louisville Medical Society, and Internal Medicine Physician with Norton Community Medical Associates – Barret

  • Delanor Manson, CEO, Kentucky Nurses Association

  • Melinda Joyce, PharmD, Executive Director, Western Kentucky Heart and Lung Research Foundation

Vaccine Research, Development and Approval — Watch It
Speaker: Erome Daniel Hankore, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky (Slide Deck)

The Influence of Policy Measures on Vaccine Rates — Watch It
Moderator: Wayne Tuckson, MD, Colorectal Surgeon, University of Louisville Physician’s Group
Panelists:

  • Dr. L.J Tan, PhD, Chief Strategy Officer, Immunization Action Coalition (Slide Deck)

  • Jennifer Kates, PhD, Senior Vice President and Director of Global Health & HIV Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation (Slide Deck)

  • Kate Shanks, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Kentucky Chamber (Slide Deck)

A Vaccine Campaign Success Story — Watch It
Introduction: Joel Thornbury, RPh, Pharmacist and President, Kentucky Pharmacists Association
Remarks: Rakesh Sachdeva, MD, Pediatrician, Physicians for Children and Adolescents (Slide Deck)

September 21, 2021

Vaccines in School Systems — Watch It
Remarks: Eva Stone, DNP, Manager, District Health Services, Jefferson County Public Schools

Keynote Address — Watch It
Introduction: Ben Chandler, President/CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
Remarks: Xavier Becerra, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Remarks: Delanor Manson, CEO, Kentucky Nurses Association

Panel Discussion: Vaccine Messaging — Two-Way Street — Watch It
Moderator: Al Cross, Director, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky
Panelists:

  • Rashaad Abdur-Rahman, Founder and CEO, Racial Healing Project

  • Frances Feltner, DNP, Director, University of Kentucky College of Medicine's Center of Excellence in Rural Health (Slide Deck)

  • Cory Meadows, Deputy Executive Vice President and Director of Advocacy, Kentucky Medical Association (Slide Deck)

Panel Discussion: Early Childhood Vaccines — Watch It
Moderator: Ann Hagan-Grigsby, CEO, Park DuValle Community Health Center
Panelists:

  • Kristina Bryant, MD, Medical Director for Pediatric Infection Prevention and Control, Norton Children’s Hospital (Slide Deck)

  • Julia Richerson, MD, Pediatrician, Family Health Centers Louisville - Iroquois (Slide Deck)

  • Brian Castrucci, DrPH, President/CEO, de Beaumont Foundation (Slide Deck)

Panel Discussion: Youth Adult Vaccines — Watch It
Moderator: Lisa Tobe, Executive Director, Wildflower Consulting
Panelists:

  • Amy Herrington, DNP, Clinical Educator, Immunization Branch, Kentucky Department for Public Health (Slide Deck)

  • Brian Krueger, Associate Dean, Department of Political Science, University of Rhode Island (Slide Deck)

  • Molly Nicol Lewis, JD, COO, Kentucky Primary Care Association, Inc. (Slide Deck) | (Video)

Panel Discussion: Improving the Kentucky Immunization Registry — Watch It
Moderator: Joel Thornbury, RPh, Pharmacist and President, Kentucky Pharmacists Association
Panelists:

  • Andrew Bledsoe, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Health Data and Analytics, Kentucky Health Information Exchange (Slide Deck)

  • Rebecca Coyle, Executive Director, American Immunization Registry Association (Slide Deck)

  • Maria Fernanda Nota, MD, Pediatrician, Norton Healthcare (Slide Deck)