Extension immunization education, outreach efforts recognized nationally
June 1, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Extension received award from National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit
- Award recognizes extension immunization outreach efforts focused on rural Arkansans
- Outreach focused on expanding vaccine education and access
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Download photo of extension staff with award
ATLANTA — A national immunization organization has recognized the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service for its dedicated work connecting rural Arkansans to trusted vaccine education and vaccination opportunities.
The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Extension staff received the 2026 Honorable Mention “Immunization Neighborhood” Champion Award from the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit, or NAIIS, during the organization’s conference held May 20 in Atlanta, Georgia. The award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work with immunization stakeholders has contributed to protecting communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Heather Wingo, extension immunization educator for the Division of Agriculture, said extension plays a “unique role in expanding access to vaccine education and opportunities in Arkansas” because of the organization’s presence on the local level in each of the state’s 75 counties.
“The Division of Agriculture works alongside families, schools, farms, childcare providers and local organizations, giving us an opportunity to bring vaccine education to people in places where they already feel comfortable,” Wingo said.
John D. Anderson, senior associate vice president for agriculture for the Division of Agriculture and director of the Cooperative Extension Service, said one of the division’s top priorities is supporting the health of Arkansans.
“We’re working to improve the health of Arkansans through food, nutrition, and health research, education, and our extension programs,” Anderson said. “Vaccine education outreach is just one of the many ways we’re getting research-based information to Arkansans so they can make informed decisions for their health and that of their families.”
History of impact
Wingo said Arkansas has a rich history of extension involvement with immunization.
“In the 1970s, First Lady Betty Bumpers led a statewide childhood immunization effort at a time when Arkansas had some of the lowest childhood immunization rates in the country,” Wingo said. “The Division of Agriculture was part of that effort because it was one of the most extensive local networks in the state.
“That campaign helped immunize more than 350,000 children on one Saturday during its peak, and Bumpers’ ‘Every Child by ‘74’ campaign model became so successful that it was later used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a model for immunization programs across the country,” Wingo said.
Wingo said that as an extension immunization educator, her work builds on that same legacy.
“Vaccine education is not just about giving people information,” Wingo said. “It is about helping people feel informed instead of overwhelmed. Vaccines can be a complicated and sometimes emotional topic, but extension can help break that information down in a way that is practical, respectful and easy to understand.”
Expanding education and access
The Immunization Excellence Award recognizes extension’s outreach efforts, which are supported by the EXCITE project: the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement. EXCITE is funded by an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wingo said EXCITE has supported the Division of Agriculture with funding, national technical assistance, peer-learning opportunities and more.
“Through EXCITE, we have been able to expand the role of Cooperative Extension in vaccine education by developing practical, community-based tools that help Arkansans learn about vaccines, understand their options and make informed decisions,” Wingo said. “The support from EXCITE has allowed us to create and share educational materials, train extension professionals, build partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations, and connect vaccine education to trusted local providers already serving families across the state.”
In 2025, extension integrated its “Learn. Understand. Decide.” vaccine education framework into 15 educational sessions of the “How to Talk to Your Doctor” program, reaching 123 Arkansas adults in Ashley, Chicot, Randolph and Van Buren counties.
“Evaluation data from these sessions showed promising outcomes, with 72 percent of participants reporting plans to speak with a healthcare provider about recommended vaccines within six months and 62 percent indicating intent to schedule a vaccination,” Wingo said.
Wingo said county extension agents also partnered with independent pharmacists, early childhood educators and community organizations to expand vaccine education and access through county fair outreach, pharmacy collaborations and pharmacist-supported vaccination opportunities at extension-led events.
Community collaboration
The NAIIS award also recognizes the rapid response of extension’s Best Care program during a measles outbreak in 2025. Best Care provides professional development opportunities to early childhood educators throughout the state.
Wingo said that during the measles outbreak, Best Care helped extend vaccine education to childhood educators.
“Our response focused on helping childcare providers understand why measles prevention matters, what symptoms and exposures to be aware of, and how vaccination protects children, families and communities,” Wingo said. “Best Care’s role was especially important because early childhood providers are trusted messengers for families. They are often the frontline of answering parent questions, recognizing concerns and encouraging families to seek guidance from health care providers.
“This collaboration with Best Care allowed the Division of Agriculture to support those providers with research-based information during a time when clear communication was critical,” Wingo said.
Building a bridge to success
Wingo said it is important to understand that extension cannot replace healthcare providers but rather helps to build a bridge between public health, healthcare and the community.
“A bridge like this is critical in Arkansas because access to reliable information and preventive health services is not equal across all communities,” Wingo said. “Extension has helped close that gap before, and through EXCITE and our current immunization education efforts, we are continuing that role today.”
To learn more about extension vaccine education resources, visit the Vaccine Information page on the Cooperative Extension Service website or contact Heather Wingo at hwingo@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061