Advancing Adult Immunization

ACC is part of a consortium of medical specialty societies – Specialty Societies Advancing Adult Immunization – funded through CDC and supported by CMSS to provide vaccination resources to cardiovascular clinicians, including education and learning opportunities, clinical practice guidance, and quality improvement initiatives.

Why focus on adult immunizations?

  • Adult vaccination rates are extremely low.
  • Most adults are NOT aware that they need vaccines.
  • Recommendation from their healthcare professional is the strongest predictor of whether patients get vaccinated.
  • There are many missed opportunities for vaccination because many healthcare professionals are not routinely assessing vaccination status.

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) revised the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice in 2013. View the most recent Standards for Adult Immunization Practice on the CDC website. These updated standards call on ALL healthcare professionals — whether they provide vaccinations or not — to take steps to help ensure that their adult patients are fully immunized. These steps are as follows:

ASSESS immunization status of all your patients at every clinical encounter.

  • Stay informed. Get the latest CDC recommendations for immunization of adults.
  • Implement protocols and policies. Ensure that patients' vaccine needs are routinely reviewed and patients get reminders about vaccines they need.

Strongly RECOMMEND vaccines that patients need.

  • Share tailored reasons why vaccination is right for the patient.
  • Highlight positive experiences with vaccination.
  • Address patient questions and concerns.
  • Remind patients that vaccines protect them and their loved ones against a number of common and serious diseases.
  • Explain the potential costs of getting sick.

ADMINISTER or REFER your patients to a vaccination provider.

  • Offer the vaccines you stock.
  • Refer patients to providers in the area that offer vaccines that you don't stock.

DOCUMENT vaccines received by your patients.

  • Participate in your state's immunization registry. Help your office, your patients, and your patients' other providers know which vaccines your patients have had.
  • Follow up. Confirm that patients received recommended vaccines that you referred them to get from other immunization providers.

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