Thomas George1, Abigail Shefer
2, and Daniel B. Fishbein
2. (1) National Immunization Program/Health Services Research Evaluation Branch, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E-52, Atlanta, GA, USA, (2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Acting Branch Chief, HSREB, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-52, Atlanta, USA
KEYWORDS:
Adult, standing orders, nursing home, long term care facility, influenza, pneumococcal
BACKGROUND:
Residents in long term care facilities (LTCFs) are at high risk for influenza and pneumococcal disease. To assure that residents of LTCFs are vaccinated, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends standing orders (authorizing nurses and pharmacists to vaccinate based on an institution or physician approved protocol) be used. States can also assure vaccination by requiring long term care facilities to administer influenza and pneumococcal vaccines to their residents. However, policies relating to, and the legality of standing orders differ from state to state.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the status of standing orders and requirements for influenza and pneumococcal vaccine in LTCFs for each state.
METHOD:
Summarize data from the report on State Policies, Laws and Regulations Governing Immunizations in Long Term Care Facilities (Devore 2001), CDC 2001 Annual Progress Report, and interveiws with state health officials.
RESULT:
Thirty states and District of Columbia (59%) reported allowing the use of standing orders in nursing homes according to ACIP standards. Ten (20%) states require LTCFs to offer influenza vaccine and nine (18%) states require LTCFs to offer pneumococcal vaccine.
CONCLUSION:
Influenza and pneumococcal disease are easily preventable among high risk adults. Allowing standing orders and requiring the use of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines in LTCFs will improve vaccination coverage.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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