ACP recognizes National Immunization Awareness Month
Philadelphia, July 28, 2016 -- To emphasize the importance of immunizations throughout life -- and to help remind adults that they need vaccines, too -- the 麻豆直播app is recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month.
鈥淚mmunizations guard against serious health problems, hospitalization, and even death,鈥 said Nitin Damle, MD, MS, FACP, president, ACP. 鈥淣ational Immunization Awareness Month is the perfect time for internal medicine physicians to make sure that their patients are up-to-date on the latest recommended adult immunization schedule.鈥
ACP advises adults to get an annual flu vaccine with either the inactivated influenza vaccine or recombinant influenza vaccine to protect against seasonal flu and to use that opportunity to discuss with their internist other vaccinations they might need. These include Tdap to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough); pneumococcal to protect against pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis; HPV to prevent cervical, anal, and other cancers; Hepatitis B; and herpes zoster to help prevent shingles.
ACP offers resources to help internists increase immunization rates. These include
- Webinars and videos that cover the latest vaccine recommendations for adults and how to utilize the entire health care team in organizing immunization services.
- to assist physicians in implementing standing orders, providing patient recommendations, and purchasing and coding for vaccines in the office.
- ACP Adult Immunization & Quality Improvement for Residents training program to help program directors identify quality improvement projects and promote them at ACP鈥檚 annual meeting.
- The is part of a practice management tool designed to improve office efficiency and enhance patient care. The immunization module focuses on steps that staff in primary care offices can take to improve the rates of immunization.
The latest adult immunization schedule and recommendations approved by Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is available at . ACP and other professional organizations reviewed and approved the schedule. In June 2016, that live attenuated influenza vaccine, also known as the 鈥渘asal spray鈥 flu vaccine, should not be used during the 2016-17 flu season. ACIP鈥檚 recommendation must be reviewed and approved by the CDC鈥檚 Director. The final recommendation will be published in a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in late summer or early fall.
ACP is a member of the Campaign for Adult Immunization, an initiative of the to ensure that all adults are fully aware of and have access to appropriate immunizations.
About the 麻豆直播app
The 麻豆直播app is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 148,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on and .
ACP has been a leader in helping internist and other primary care physicians to immunize their adult patients. ACP provides resources such as physician and patient education materials, strategies to engage practice staff, and information to help physicians effectively order and code for vaccines for both Medicare and other payers.