Vaccines have greatly reduced diseases that once routinely harmed or killed children and adults. People all over the world—including in the United States—still become seriously ill or even die from diseases that vaccines can help prevent. It is important that you stay up-to-date on all recommended vaccinations.
Below, here are some tips and information on how to keep your residents/patients up-to-date on all vaccinations.
- Review Immunization History: Prior to a patient or resident’s health care visit, whether it is at the nursing home or the in the provider’s office, it is always good to review the vaccines the individual has received in the past.
- Assess for Needed Immunizations: To determine what vaccines are needed, utilize the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) immunization schedule. This link will take you to the Immunization Schedules for adults.
- Screen for Contraindications and Precautions: Screen all patients and residents for any contraindications and precautions prior to requesting a vaccine be given. Ensure you know what type of contraindication they had to previous vaccines prior to them being given.
- Educate the patient, resident and family: Discuss with the patient, resident and/or family the vaccines recommended. If the provider is notified prior to the visit of the vaccine recommendations, they can provide approval to receive the vaccine. Be sure to answer any questions the patient, resident or family may have prior to the individual seeing their provider.
- Prepare the Vaccine(s): Ensure aseptic technique and infection control guidelines are followed when preparing the vaccines. Prepare only the vaccines the patient, resident and family have consented to.
- Administer the Vaccine(s): Vaccines have a recommended route and site they need to be administered by. If preparing the administer an injection, know if the vaccine is to be given subcutaneous or intramuscular. Different types of needles or syringes may be needed. Also be sure to follow infection control guidelines when giving vaccine(s).
- Document the Vaccination(s): Once the vaccine(s) have been administered all the needed information needs to be documented in the patient or resident’s health record. Also, remember to place the vaccine(s) in the immunization information systems (ISSs) your state uses for their database.
If the patient or resident will have co-administration of vaccines, you will need to label each of the syringes with the vaccine name. Do not prepare more than one vaccine per syringe. The injection sites should be an inch apart if given in the same limb.
If the resident, patient and/or family show some hesitancy after they have been educated regarding the vaccine(s) they may receive, it is important to notify the provider and take the extra time to visit with the patient, resident and their family to help them make the best decision to receive the vaccine(s).
Additional Resources:
Focus 4 Health Series | Looking at Immunizations Through a Different Lens
Angle on Equity | Recording
Snapshot of Data and Immunization Information Systems | Recording
Zoom in on Vaccine Hesitancy | Recording
Framing Your Delivery of Vaccinations | Recording
Listen to our Podcast: Q-Tips For Your Ears!