Increasing Adult Vaccination Rates What Works

Take Home Points:

• Use standing orders to increase adult vaccination rates: http://www.immunize.org/standingorders/

• Doctors: Recommend vaccines to your patients. Research shows that patients get vaccinated when their doctor recommends it.

• Ask adult patients if they are up-to-date on their immunizations. Here’s a handout to help patients decide: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4030.pdf

• Check the patient’s chart for immunizations due.

• Send reminder cards or make reminder telephone calls when immunizations are due or past due.

• Hand out the Vaccine Information Statement to patients receiving a vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm

• Post the recommended adult immunization schedule in your office: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/adult-schedule.htm

• Vaccinate all healthcare personnel who provide direct patient care with age-appropriate vaccines .