The latest National Immunization Survey found that, excluding New York City, New York state leads the nation in childhood immunization. The picture is entirely different for adults, however. Experts are hopeful these numbers will improve. Also, the National Coalition for Adult Immunization says that the average flu epidemic in the U.S. causes 25,000 deaths. Yet we know that recommendation by a healthcare provider significantly improves the chances that a person will be immunized.
Nurses can be very helpful, by recommending and providing vaccines.
They are also in great positions to develop and participate in comprehensive vaccine delivery programs, whether it be in the clinical settings where they work, with other healthcare providers in their communities, or in their own practices. The reasons, Agard says, include lack of both information and money. Many adults are unaware of the need for immunization, and have misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Last year, the state conducted a 19-county pilot program involving healthcare practitioners and organizations providing services to the elderly. Those efforts included expanding and coordinating the schedules of all immunization clinics, brokering vaccines to clinics, and getting out the pro-immunization message to radio and TV stations.