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Leadership Lesson – August 2023: The Importance of Encouraging Routine Vaccinations for People of All Ages

July 31, 2023

Words of advice from leaders on the front lines.
This month’s leadership lesson is from Karen Vallejo, infection prevention specialist for Alliant Health Solutions.

The Importance of Encouraging Routine Vaccinations for People of All Ages

August Leadership Lesson Image

National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for people of all ages throughout the year.

Adult vaccination rates in the United States are low, with many adults not fully aware of all the recommended vaccines for their age group. As health care leaders, we want to ensure our organizations have a culture that prioritizes assessing vaccination status at every encounter to protect everyone from vaccine-preventable diseases and disability. We also need to focus on increasing vaccine equity by partnering with our national, state, local, and community organizations working to increase vaccine confidence and access in their communities.

It matters to patients when they seek reassurance from their provider that vaccines are safe and effective. A strong, clear recommendation is usually enough, but others may need more information.  Listening to their concerns and answering their questions can help them make informed decisions.

Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call to action to providers across the health care spectrum is to improve the vaccination of adults and get routine vaccinations back on schedule.  The CDC recommends using five reasons to strengthen vaccine confidence when recommending vaccines:

  1. Vaccines have saved lives for 100 years – but serious disease is still a threat
  2. Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from preventable disease
  3. Vaccines can prevent serious illness
  4. The vaccines you receive are safe
  5. Vaccines may be required

The CDC’s Vaccinate with Confidence strategic framework to strengthen vaccine confidence and prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease identifies three strategies to protect communities at risk and strengthen public trust in the life-saving protection of vaccines.  Read more about the strategies to:

  1. Protect communities
  2. Empower families
  3. Stop myths

Resource: CDC For Immunization Partners