Not so fast! Sure, we all know we should be promoting the updated influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, but did you know that CDC recommended vaccines for adults include five different vaccinations? These vaccines are particularly important for older, health-compromised adults, as many of these newer vaccines were not available when these folks were young.

ACIP recommendations for adult vaccines are getting longer and more complicated, and the way they are administered is more complex as well. Additionally, vaccine hesitancy has accelerated, and physicians are becoming more concerned about the lagging rates of adult vaccination. In a recent Medscape article, Dr. Block was quoted as saying, “Given the prevalence of conditions like pneumonia and shingles and the morbidity associated with them, healthcare providers should take every opportunity to discuss vaccination with patients.”

What is your process for verifying vaccination status for your residents? Many new admissions may have their vaccine status maintained at their local pharmacy, which is helpful, but not everyone does. This is probably one of the trickiest pieces, verifying status. Think about this during the admission process; talk to family members, ask them to check with the local pharmacy to see if they have current records. Be sure to set up a system with your pharmacy provider and Medical Director as well. What is best practice if vaccination status is unknown? It might be helpful to have a family night, serve some goodies, have a pharmacy representative discuss the importance of vaccines, and have consent forms ready to be reviewed/signed. It can’t hurt, well maybe for a second, “little poke”! The CDC recommended vaccines for adults are an essential part of keeping our residents healthy. The CDC adult immunization schedule Adult Immunization Schedule – Healthcare Providers| CDC is a great resource! Stay well and stay informed!