4 . Host an event . Start a Shot @ Life committee in your local SNA chapter to plan and organize your advocacy actions . If you ’ re a chapter leader , you can host a phone bank and ask your classmates to drop in , or Zoom in , to make their calls . Help collect donations by starting a fundraiser with your local SNA chapter to provide lifesaving vaccines for children around the world . You can even host a watch party or start a book club . There are several movies , documentaries , and books that center around vaccines and the history of communicable diseases . The Great Influenza : The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History book and movie sealed my confidence in the need for global vaccine programs .
5 . Meet with your Congressional offices . Although I initially thought meeting with my representatives would be intimidating , I found that I was greeted warmly and encouraged to share my concerns . They need to hear from their constituents to be able to represent them . I encourage you to work with the Shot @ Life team to schedule your first meeting with another vaccine champion or an advocacy leader in your state . Your advocacy leader will be able to help facilitate a meeting and orient you to the process . You ’ ll also want to access the “ leave behind ” materials that you can leave with your Congressional member ’ s office to review later . This past year , all meetings have been virtual , but we previously met with our representatives or their staff members in Washington , D . C . as well as in local offices closer to home .
Conclusion The Shot @ Life group I advocate with has held over 2,400 meetings with members of Congress and sent over 200,000 letters . Our advocacy actions , alongside our partner organizations , have directly contributed to increased funding for immunizations . Raising your voice to promote vaccine access assists this effort . The collective voice of all NSNA members would be even LOUDER . n
References Barry , J . ( 2004 ). The great influenza the epic story of the deadliest plague in history . New York : Viking .
World Health Organization . ( 2020 ). Immunization coverage .
https :// www . who . int / news-room / fact-sheets / detail / immunization-coverage
Janice Hawkins , PhD , RN , CNS-BC , is a Clinical Associate Professor at Old Dominion University and faculty advisor for the ODU Student Nurses Association . She is the state co-leader for the UN Foundation Shot @ Life Campaign . She is also a UN Liaison with Sigma Theta Tau International in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council . Her nursing background is in community health and maternal child nursing where she became an advocate for immunizations . Janice is a retired army nurse . Her travels all over the world have led to a greater awareness of the need for access to life-saving vaccinations for all .
34 NSNA IMPRINT n APRIL / MAY 2021 n www . nsna . org