Immunization Medical Exemption and Surveillance Specialist, Bureau of Immunization

Job Description

The mission of the Bureau of Immunization (BOI) is to prevent the occurrence and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) through comprehensive immunization programs. BOI promotes immunization across the lifespan from infancy through adulthood, works to eliminate disparities in vaccination coverage through data evaluation and support of equitable vaccination services, and actively responds to VPD outbreaks to mitigate their spread and impact on communities. The BOI School Compliance Unit (SCU) is responsible for ensuring that children attending childcare programs and schools are vaccinated in accordance with New York State immunization requirements. The BOI Surveillance Unit is responsible for conducting surveillance of measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, and invasive pneumococcal disease in children aged less than 5 years and assuring the institution of control measures and outbreak response. The Surveillance Unit is also responsible for the management and analysis of surveillance data and monitoring the impact of new vaccines.

The Immunization Medical Exemption and Surveillance Specialist will report to the Director of Epidemiology and Surveillance and will work with both SCU and the Surveillance Unit. With the SCU, the Medical Specialist will be a primary physician responsible for reviewing requests for medical exemptions to immunizations submitted by medical providers for children attending childcare and school. The Medical Specialist will determine if the exemption request is valid based on national guidance and recommendations. The Medical Specialist would also work on various aspects of emergency and outbreak responses for vaccine preventable diseases, as needed. This includes serving as a medical liaison to exposure sites to provide guidance on contact identification and notification, immunity assessments, and post-exposure prophylaxis for measles. They would coordinate referrals to healthcare facilities for prophylaxis and titers for community contacts and would provide guidance to specialists for high-risk contacts, including pregnant and immunocompromised individuals. They would also be the point of contact for receiving clinical updates from infection control and providers for hospitalized cases and contacts and for relaying test results in these settings. They would assist in other aspects of outbreak responses, as needed.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
Receive and review medical exemption requests to immunizations including any accompanying medical documentation.
Determine the validity of the medical exemption requests through discussion with the submitting physician, BOI physicians and external consultants as needed.
Enter exemption request data and use the data entry system to describe trends in medical exemption requests and the submitting physicians.
Draft written guidance to medical providers and schools regarding immunization exemptions.
Serve as a medical liaison to sites of exposures for vaccine preventable diseases to provide guidance on contact identification and notification immunity assessments, and control measures.
Collaborate with medical providers for high-risk contacts to determine need for PEP based on the contacts’ medical conditions.
Coordinate referrals for titers for assessment of serologic immunity for vaccine preventable diseases and referrals to healthcare facilities for PEP for people exposed in community settings.
Document updates in the surveillance database, Maven.
Assist in other aspects of outbreak responses, as needed.
Participate in BOI activities, such as the Doctor-of-the-Week rotation.
Participate in additional DOHMH activities, such as the Doctor-on-Call program and emergency response activities.

Why you should work for us:

- Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
- Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
- Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
- Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Commitment to Equity:

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at or 347-396-6549.

CITY MEDICAL SPECIALIST (PART- - 53040

Qualifications

Possession of a valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York; and either:
a) Valid Board Certification issued by the appropriate American Specialty Board in any specialty area required by the agency; or
b) Current approved application on file for admission to the certifying examination given by the appropriate American Specialty Board in any specialty area required by the agency.
To be assigned to Assignment Level II, individuals must have, in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements for Assignment Level I described above, one year of satisfactory experience practicing in the specialty area.
To be assigned to Assignment Level III, individuals must possess:
a) A valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York; and
b) A Master's degree in Public Health, or equivalent Master's degree, including or supplemented by graduate credits in epidemiology and biostatistics. Completion of Epidemic Intelligence Service program of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to substitute for this Master's degree; and
c) At least two years of satisfactory experience after receipt of the Master's degree, or equivalent, in the practice of epidemiology. Specialty Board Certification or eligibility may be substituted for one year of this experience.
To be assigned to Assignment Level IV, individuals must possess:
a) A valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York; and
b) Completion of an approved residency program in an accredited hospital, including three years of experience, in either internal medicine, or family practice, or pediatrics, or another related specialty area required by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and
c) Valid board certification or board eligibility issued by the appropriate American Subspecialty Board in Infectious Disease, Pulmonary Medicine, or a related subspecialty; and
d) Completion of an approved fellowship program in an accredited hospital, including two years of experience, in either infectious diseases, or pulmonary medicine, or another related subspecialty required by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.