WASHINGTON — Targeting health care workers, reaching out to grandparents, promoting workplace vaccination, and extending the vaccination season are among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's short-term efforts to improve vaccination rates in priority groups and the general public for the 2006–2007 flu season, Dr. Jeanne M. Santoli reported at a meeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee.
“We looked at what can we do on short notice to try to promote vaccination this year, and what programs we could piggyback onto,” said Dr. Santoli, who is with the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Several teams of health care providers are in the process of implementing plans to increase flu vaccination that were established at the National Influenza Vaccine Summit Meeting earlier this year, Dr. Santoli reported.
The team that focused on increasing flu vaccination among heath care workers has crafted joint letters from the CDC and the American Medical Association to administrators of health care facilities about the importance of vaccinating all employees. The team also designed a full-page ad to appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The pediatric team's activities have included promoting flu vaccination in children aged 6–59 months in response to the current recommendations for vaccination in this age group.
In addition, the team is developing flash cards for primary care providers who are trying to reach 5− to 14-year-olds, many of whom are either high risk themselves or are household contacts of high-risk persons. “We don't always do a good job of reaching the household contacts,” Dr. Santoli noted.
The pediatrics team also initiated a joint effort with the AARP that will encourage grandparents to help make sure that their own grandchildren are vaccinated.
Another team targeted the contacts of high-risk persons and the general public by identifying venues where they could reach many people.
The team developed a joint letter to the colleges that are members of the American College Health Association (ACHA) from both the CDC and the ACHA that stressed the importance of sponsoring vaccination clinics for students.
Other efforts have included hosting a Web-based seminar for employers with information about workplace vaccinations and exploring ways to promote flu vaccination through faith-based organizations.
Another team has addressed the misperception that the flu vaccination season ends in December. Their proposed strategies include presenting an award for a provider or organization that develops an innovative approach to vaccination later in the season, and promoting a “Flu Vaccination Day” in January, when providers and patients aren't thinking about flu vaccines.
At the start of flu season, approximately 100 million doses of flu vaccine were available for distribution, Dr. Santoli said.
For updates on flu vaccination recommendations and vaccine supplies, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaxsupply.htm