Menstuff® has compiled information and books on the issue of
immunizations.
Immunizations
Promoting Immunizations of Older
Adults
Adult
Immunizations
Immunization
Contact People by State 
Diseases
Immunization Chart
For all adults age 50 and over, an influenza immunization is recommended in the Fall of every year, usually beginning mid-October.
Pneumonia
A pneumonia shot (pneumococcal vaccine) is recommended upon turning age 65. This is a one time dose and does not need to be repeated. If you are not sure whether you have had a pneumonia shot, check with your doctor. If you can not find a record that you have had the shot, go ahead and get the immunization. It is better to get an extra dose than not to get the shot at all.
If you had a dose of pneumococcal vaccine before turning 65, and it has been at least five years since you had the dose, you should go ahead and get a second dose as a booster upon turning 65.
Tetanus-Diphtheria
A tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot is recommended every ten years. If it has been 10 years or more since your last booster, ask your doctor about getting a tetanus-diphtheria booster.
Important Notes
In most states, immunizations for adults can be administered by pharmacists in your community pharmacy. Many people find this is a convenient way to get their immunizations. To see if your state is on the list of states where this service is available, click here.
Both influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for other
high risk populations in addition to older adults. For more details
about who should be immunized and safety of adult immunizations, go
to: Immunization Facts. This page has Fact Sheets, Vaccine
Information Statements, and other information about immunizations for
adults. www.immunizeseniors.org/website/index.htm
Promoting Immunizations of Older Adults
For some settings, resources have already been compiled and can be downloaded from this site. For other settings, information is still being collected and will be posted here over the next few months. If you do not see what you need, check back later to see if it is posted, or send an e-mail to: profaff@ascp.com and let us know what you need.
We are also interested in hearing your success stories about immunization programs for older adults, regardless of the setting where it was implemented. If you would like to share your story, or if you are willing to serve as a resource to others who would like to implement a similar immunization program, send an e-mail to: profaff@ascp.com.
For a comprehensive information resource about immunization, the second edition of the 100% Immunization Campaign Resource Manual is now available. Call the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists at 800.355.2727 to request a copy of this manual, or click here to order the manual on-line. The manual is approximately 200 pages, and the cost is $25.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued a report recommending the use of standing orders as a tool to promote immunization practices. Go to:
Use of Standing Orders Programs to Increase Adult Vaccination Rates
A report from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee is also available: Adult Immunization Programs in Nontraditional Settings: Quality Standards and Guidance for Program Evaluation.
Shown below are recommendations for implementing immunization programs in a variety of settings. The key to success is for someone (YOU perhaps?) to be the "champion" for promoting the importance of immunizations for older adults and those who care for them. Find the setting below in which you are interested, and explore resources and information to assist you in promoting immunizations in older adults.
Nursing facilities
McArthur and colleagues conducted a mail survey of long-term care facilities in Canada to determine which characteristics are associated with high resident vaccination rates. The found that the following characteristics predicted success:
McArthur MA, Simor AE, Campbell B, McGeer A. Influenza vaccination in long-term care facilities: structuring programs for success. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999; 20(7):499-503.
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released a report in April 2000: Nursing Home Vaccination: Reaching Healthy People Goals
(OEI-01-99-00010). The OIG report suggests that four levers of change can be influential in reaching the Healthy People 2010 objective for vaccinating nursing home residents:
The steering committee for the 100% Immunization Campaign has developed suggested guidelines for implementing an immunization program in a nursing facility. These guidelines are designed to assist nursing facilities with incorporating these principles into a successful immunization program.
The 100% Immunization Campaign also sponsors a program to recognize nursing facilities that achieve success in immunizing residents. The Partner Program provides a wall certificate, sticker for the front door, listing on the 100% Immunization Campaign web site, and a press release to those facilities that achieve immunization of 80% of residents with both pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. Click the Partner Program link above for more details and an application form.
Assisted living
The steering committee of the 100% Immunization Campaign has developed guidelines for implementing an immunization program in assisted living.
The 100% Immunization Campaign also sponsors a program to recognize assisted living communities that achieve success in immunizing residents. The Partner Program provides a wall certificate, sticker for the front door, listing on the 100% Immunization Campaign web site, and a press release to those organizations that achieve immunization of 80% of residents with both pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. Click the Partner Program link above for more details and an application form.
Senior centers and adult day service centers
The 100% Immunization Campaign is assembling information on assisting senior centers and adult day service centers with implementing immunization initiatives. Check back at this web page later to get more information about this area.
If you have suggestions about how to implement an immunization program in senior centers, or if you have used methods or tools that have been useful, share your suggestions by sending an e-mail to: profaff@ascp.com. Useful tips and ideas will be compiled and posted on this web site for others to learn from.
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