Influenza causes more hospitalizations in the United States than any other vaccine-preventable illness — an average of 226,000 per year, the vast majority of them people age 65 or older. The flu vaccine, our best defense against the spread of influenza, is inexpensive, quick, and, in most years, widely available — yet vaccine coverage remains well below targets set in Healthy People 2010. Rates for the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) lag as well.
Research shows providers play a key role in immunization coverage rates. Providers often miss opportunities to vaccinate patients, such as hospitalizations or office visits for reasons unrelated to the flu. Patients are also more likely to get a flu vaccine if their doctor recommends it.
AFMC has been working for years to raise the rates of adult immunizations by educating providers and consumers, and by working with providers to improve office procedures and make other changes aimed at making adult immunization a routine part of health care. We produce a variety of free tools such as posters, reminder postcards and pocket guides with information about the influenza and pneumonia vaccines to help providers raise rates of vaccination among their patients.
The quality of care indicators for adult immunization are:
- Annual influenza immunization for everyone age 50 and older and for patients at high risk for complications from the flu
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination (PPV) for everyone age 65 and older and patients at high risk
For more information about AMFC’s adult immunization quality improvement project, contact our quality specialist.