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THE STORY
THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT
THE STORY
THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT

2013

logo voices 2013

  • VOCES, the Puerto Rico Vaccination Coalition, is founded with the mission of advocating for the equitable vaccination of the entire population in Puerto Rico, through the elimination of access barriers, education on vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, and the development of public policy.

  • It brings together more than 40 entities and individuals in the field of health in PR

  • The first education and access to vaccination project is carried out in private schools: Vaccination Carnival for Adolescents Up to Date.

  • The 1st Immunization Congress for health professionals is held in PR – IMCO.

  • The first adult vaccination education campaign is launched: Are you up to date on all 5 vaccines?

  • The first FluPalooza takes place at the Puerto Rico Convention Center: 11,000+ doses administered

  • VOCES convenes and leads the formation of the HPV Advisory Panel, which brings together the Department of Health and more than 22 organizations in the health field. This panel, composed of 22 organizations and individuals, will develop the Strategic Plan for Cervical Cancer Prevention 2014-2020.

  • The Secretary of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico signed a proclamation to declare the month of May as HPV Awareness Month (Later moved to July 31 to August 6 – HPV Awareness and Prevention Week)

  • The first training workshop for community leaders on adult vaccination is being held.

  • The educational campaign on adult vaccination is launched, entitled: Adult 65+, Choose to Prevent, Get Vaccinated

2014

HPV Advisory Panel

HPV Advisory Panel

2015

1st Health Journalism Workshop

1st Workshop on Health Journalism

  • Da inicio la Campaña de Concienciación sobre el Cáncer Cervical y otros cánceres asociados al VPH conocida como “Las Voces de Rhaiza Vélez Plumey”

  • Panel Asesor de VPH presenta su informe y recomendaciones para aumentar la vacunación en la Isla

  • La procuradora de las personas mayores de edad firmó una proclama para declarar la 4.ª semana del mes de marzo, como la Semana Nacional de la Educación y Prevención Contra la Culebrilla

  • Lanza la campaña educativa titulada “Las Caras de la Culebrilla”

  • Se realiza el 1.er Taller de Periodismo en Salud, en alianza con el “Overseas Press Club” y la Asociación de Periodistas de PR.

  • Campaña educativa con profesionales de la salud contra la Influenza: “Yo prometo”

  • Se lleva a cabo en primer encuentro de líderes religiosos sobre la Prevención de Cáncer.

  • The Palooza Life Tour – Health and Prevention Festival – is taking place, expanding the vaccination service with vaccines against flu and pneumonia.

  • Health clinics and educational talks are also included.

  • The VOCES Awards are created, “An Award for Excellence” aimed at Immunizers with a long career.

  • A training camp for Girl Scout Cadets is held, in which the module created by VOCES and the Comprehensive Cancer Center is presented to educate about cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.

  • Launch the educational campaign “Voices Against Meningitis B”

  • The Public Health “Merit Badge” for Girl Scout Cadets is created in an effort to train and raise awareness about Women’s Health and cervical cancer and other HPV-associated cancers.

2016

Tour Vida Palooza – Health and Prevention Festival

Tour Vida Palooza – Health and Prevention Festival

2017

The Health and Prevention Route

Following Hurricane Maria, the "Health and Prevention Route" is being implemented.

  • The TEAL movement begins to raise awareness about cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.

  • Launch the shingles education and vaccination campaign with “Jesusa Cruz” – “Shingles marks you for life” in partnership with AARP, the PR Association of Dermatology, the PR Association of Ophthalmology and the office of the ombudsman for the elderly.

  • In response to the state of emergency following Hurricane Maria's passage through the Island, the project "The Route of Health and Prevention" is being carried out - an initiative of the PR Department of Health and VOCES, with the support of "Direct Relief" & the CDC Foundation.

  • 88,867 vaccines administered

  • 77 municipalities

  • 45+ collaborations

  • 164+ vulnerable communities

  • 185 schools

  • 107+ mass vaccination events

  • One of the most outstanding events was Puerto Rico Free of Influenza 100 x 35 where an alliance was made with community pharmacies, chains and suppliers making the influenza vaccine accessible.

  • The “Program for the Control of Vectors and Leptospirosis Infections” was developed in partnership with the “Women's Health Society”. The following resources were distributed as part of this initiative:

  • 1,800 water filters in homes

  • 10,000 mosquito repellents

  • $200,000 in food, water, and essential items for the communities

Puerto Rico Free of Influenza

Events: Puerto Rico Free of Influenza 100 x 35

  • The Legislative Forum “Real Perspectives on Vaccination” focused on HPV is presented

  • We advocated for and succeeded in getting the Secretary of Health to include the HPV vaccine as a school requirement in Puerto Rico.

  • In collaboration with the Special Projects Office of the House of Representatives, the photographic exhibition “Vaccines Save Lives” is inaugurated with the purpose of educating and raising awareness among the people of Puerto Rico about the devastating effects of infectious diseases preventable through vaccination.

  • VOCES transforms into the Immunization and Health Promotion Coalition, a multisectoral, community-centered organization dedicated to health promotion and disease prevention through immunization; with diverse, evidence-based strategies

2018

Photo exhibition: Vaccines Save Lives

Photo exhibit “Vaccines Save Lives”

2019

Alliance group for bill that the Puerto Rico Immunization Registry

Alliance group for bill that the Puerto Rico Immunization Registry.

  • The website www.dondemevacuno.com is being developed, which allows the population to know where all the registered vaccination centers in Puerto Rico are located.

  • We advocated for and succeeded in making the Puerto Rico Immunization Registry mandatory for all vaccination providers on the island, turning it into law and allowing citizens to access their vaccination history.

  • VOCES obtains its pharmacy license to be a collection center for vaccines donated by different entities and to provide support during emergency seasons and events.

  • In coordination with the Puerto Rico Department of Health's Vaccination Program, the Puerto Rico Medical Reserve Corps, Public Health Brigades, and Nursing Schools, vaccinations and supplies are being delivered to communities affected by the earthquakes.

    • Mobile Unit - 16 municipalities

    • 35,000 doses administered of vaccines against influenza, tetanus and pneumonia

  • Launches the first media campaign against Covid-19, “Stay home, we are all responsible for stopping this virus”

  • The educational initiative “We Are Doing Well in Community Health” is underway, a virtual training program for community leaders on how to develop initiatives to promote health in their communities.

mass vaccination against influenza

Flumarathon - mass vaccination against influenza

2021

2020

  • In collaboration with the Puerto Rican Diabetes Association, the Puerto Rican Lung Association, the Puerto Rico Renal Council, the American Cancer Society of Puerto Rico, the Alliance for Chronic Disease Control, the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Puerto Rico, and AARP, the “Patients First Alliance” was created to ensure that patients with chronic diseases did not interrupt their healthcare and maintained their quality of life during the pandemic.

  • A virtual fundraising concert was held so that these entities could continue providing services to their patients during the pandemic.

  • They developed training programs for patients on the use of Telemedicine and developed an educational campaign on telemedicine, creating telesaludpuertorico.com.

  • The Flumarathon is being carried out, mass vaccinations against influenza in collaboration with the Department of Health, this time in a drive-through format and as training and trials together with the Puerto Rico National Guard.

telehealth project

TeleHealth project training program

  • VOCES Virtual was launched as a means of educating the public about the precautions we should take in response to the arrival of COVID-19. Through virtual seminars and videos, it reached an audience of over 50,000 views.

  • Vacu-Tour Covid-19 - Voces was one of the main providers of Covid-19 vaccination in Puerto Rico, carrying out the Vaccination Project in response to the pandemic as the operational arm of the Puerto Rico Department of Health, achieving:

  • 835,566 doses administered

  • 11,714 vaccination clinics

  • 78 municipalities visited and impacted in multiple interventions

  • 500,000 working hours contracted by personnel in professional and technical services

  • 25,000+ hours of volunteer work

  • 19 education and promotion campaigns aimed at vaccination against Covid-19, reaching 2,346,239 people

  • 17 centros de vacunación fijos en centros comerciales – centro de capacitación estudiantes escuelas de enfermería.

  • 2 centros de vacunación pediátrica – Vacu-Kids

  • 17 centros de vacunación temporeros en alianza con los Municipios

  • 835,566 registros en el ‘Puerto Rico Electronic Immunization System’ (PREIS)

  • 13,875 certificaciones emitidas en el Curso de Manejo y Administración de la vacuna de Covid-19

  • VOCES expanded its network of mobile clinics and community vaccination centers, facilitating access to crucial immunizations:

  • 835,566 records in the 'Puerto Rico Electronic Immunization System' (PREIS)

  • 13,875 certifications issued in the Covid-19 Vaccine Handling and Administration Course

  • 17 centros de vacunación fijos en centros comerciales – centro de capacitación estudiantes escuelas de enfermería.

  • 2 centros de vacunación pediátrica – Vacu-Kids

  • 17 centros de vacunación temporeros en alianza con los Municipios

Opening of two Vacu Kids centers

Opening of two Vacu Kids centers

Covid Vacu-Tour

Vacu-Tour Covid-19 Campaign #ReadyToHug to promote the COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 Vacu-Tour

COVID-19 Vacu-Tour

2022

  • A certification program, endorsed by the Department of Health, is being designed for “Vaccination Promoters”

  • In collaboration with the Department of Health and the Department of Education, virtual training is being conducted for nursing professionals to obtain certification as Vaccination Promoters. This initiative reaches approximately 1,600 nursing professionals.

  • VOCES joins the effort to vaccinate children against COVID-19 and opens Vacukids Vaccination Centers at Plaza Las Américas and Mayagüez Mall

  • VOCES Awards recognizes pandemic heroes: Healthcare professionals and Community Leaders

  • Together with the Food Bank of Puerto Rico, it is carrying out vaccinations as part of its food distribution route to towns affected by Hurricane Fiona.

VACUTOUR REPORT: CLICK HERE

2023

  • The Healthy Communities Center opens in Plaza las Américas. It marks an important step in promoting community health.

  • The All of Us Scientific Program, in partnership with the Comprehensive Cancer Center Hospital of the University of Puerto Rico, VOCES, has joined the All of Us Scientific Program. This effort is a crucial step in promoting precision medicine.

  • The exhibition "Vaccines: A Success Story in Public Health" is on display at Plaza Las Américas, with the aim of keeping the population informed about the importance of vaccines and educating them to avoid misinformation about vaccination.

  • Psychological First Aid Workshop for Community Leaders: In collaboration with the Comprehensive Cancer Center and Americares Puerto Rico, a free psychological first aid workshop was offered for community leaders.

  • VOCES PR advocated for the Health Insurance Administration (ASES) to extend its vaccination coverage to adults, a total of 933,146 participants in the Vital plan.

  • The HPV Advisory Panel 2023- VOCESPR brought together representatives from various sectors to develop strategies in order to establish a comprehensive plan for the elimination of cervical cancer in Puerto Rico, aligned with the WHO's goals towards 2030.

  • The Voices of Rhaiza movement continues her legacy, implementing new projects such as the 5k Run or Walk for Them and the Women Teal Leader Lunch.

  • IMCO Edition Number 10. Our annual meeting of stakeholders and immunizers is a success.

healthy communities

Apertura del centro Comunidades Saludable en Plaza las Américas.

  • The Health Journalism Workshop is being held for the 8th consecutive year in partnership with the Overseas Press Club.

  • The Viral Hepatitis Summit Connecting the Patient to Care is held for the first time.

  • In partnership with PR Ceal, an initiative to recruit participants for community studies is launched.

  • Educational campaign launched on respiratory diseases: Breathing is Vital.

  • The name VOCESPR is adopted, and the organization is geared towards promoting a culture of preventive health, early detection, continuing to educate and advocate for better health services for Puerto Rico.

  • VOCESPR is consolidating its position as a mitigation entity in response to public health emergencies.

  • The inclusion of VOCESPR in the development of studies and evaluations that yield important data to support educational programs based on scientific evidence and a significant improvement in vaccination rates is highlighted.

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