Recommendations
Revised
Standards
for Immunization Practices
Child
& Adolescent and Adult Immunization
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At
a glance: The National Vaccine
Advisory Committee (NVAC) recently released
revised standards for immunization practices.
The revised standards recommend making
vaccines easily accessible and implementing
strategies to improve vaccination rates.
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More than
a decade ago, two sets of standards were introduced
to guide the delivery of immunizations for children
and adults. Under the leadership of National
Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC), both sets
of standards were recently revised. The revised
standards focus on
- making vaccines
easily accessible
- effectively
communicating vaccination information
- implementing
strategies to improve vaccination rates
- developing
community partnerships to reach target patient
populations
List
of Revised Standards
for Child and Adolescent Immunization Practices |
Availability
of Vaccines
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Vaccination services are readily available.
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Vaccinations are coordinated with other
healthcare services and provided in a medical
home when possible.
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Barriers to vaccination are identified
and minimized.
- Patient
costs are minimized.
Assessment
of Vaccination Status
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Healthcare professionals review the vaccination
and health status of patients at every
encounter to determine which vaccines are
indicated.
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Healthcare professionals assess for and
follow only medically indicated contraindications.
Effective
Communication about Vaccine Benefits and Risks
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Parents/guardians and patients are educated
about the benefits and risks of vaccination
in a culturally appropriate manner and
in easy-to-understand language.
Proper
Storage and Administration of Vaccines and
Documentation of Vaccinations
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Healthcare professionals follow appropriate
procedures for vaccine storage and handling.
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Up-to-date, written vaccination protocols
are accessible at all locations where vaccines
are administered.
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Persons who administer vaccines and staff
who manage or support vaccine administration
are knowledgeable and receive ongoing education.
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Healthcare professionals simultaneously
administer as many indicated vaccine doses
as possible.
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Vaccination records for patients are accurate,
complete, and easily accessible.
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Healthcare professionals report adverse
events following vaccination promptly and
accurately to the Vaccine Adverse Events
Reporting System (VAERS) and are aware
of a separate program, the National Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program (NVICP).
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All personnel who have contact with patients
are appropriately vaccinated.
Implementation
of Strategies to Improve Vaccination Coverage
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Systems are used to remind parents/guardians,
patients, and healthcare professionals
when vaccinations are due and to recall
those who are overdue.
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Office- or clinic-based patient record
reviews and vaccination coverage assessments
are performed annually.
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Healthcare professionals practice community-based
approaches.
For
more information about ways to implement the
standards and improve child and adolescent
immunization coverage in your practice, review
the detailed standards online (.htm)
or download
a copy (.pdf). (exit
site for both links)
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Revised
Adult Immunization
Standards
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List of Revised Standards for Adult Immunization
Practices |
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Read
the article (.pdf) published in
the American
Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM) (exit
site) about revised standards for adult immunization.
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Screen-reader
device text-only version (.txt)
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NEW!
Order
a brochure with revised Standards for Adult Immunization
Practices. On the order page, follow ordering instructions
and look for the section titled "Health Care Providers
Only".
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List
of Revised Standards for Adult
Immunization Practices |
Make
vaccinations available.
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Adult vaccination services are readily available.
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Barriers to receiving vaccines are identified and minimized.
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Patient "out-of-pocket" vaccination costs are
minimized.
Assess
patients' vaccination standards.
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Healthcare professionals routinely review the vaccination
status of patients.
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Healthcare professionals assess for valid contraindications.
Communicate
effectively with patients.
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Patients are educated about risks and benefits of vaccination
in easy-to-understand language.
Administer
and document vaccinations properly.
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Written vaccination protocols are available at all locations
where vaccines are administered.
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Persons who administer vaccines are properly trained.
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Healthcare professionals recommend simultaneous administration
of indicated vaccine doses.
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Vaccination records for patients are accurate and easily
accessible.
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All personnel who have contact with patients are appropriately
vaccinated.
Implement
strategies to improve vaccination rates.
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Systems are developed and used to remind patients and
healthcare professionals when vaccinations are due and
to recall patients who are overdue.
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Standing orders for vaccinations are employed.
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Regular assessments of vaccination coverage levels are
conducted in a provider's practice.
Partner
with the community.
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Patient-oriented and community-based approaches are used
to reach the target population.
For
detailed information about ways to implement the standards
and improve adult immunization coverage in your practice,
review the standards in
detail (.pdf).
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