Adult Immunization Standards

Summary of 2013 National Vaccine Advisory Committee’s standards for adult immunization practices

All providers

• Incorporate immunization needs assessment into every clinical encounter.
• Strongly recommend needed vaccine(s) and either administer vaccine(s) or refer patient to a provider who can immunize.
• Stay up-to-date on, and educate patients about vaccine recommendations.
• Implement systems to incorporate vaccine assessment into routine clinical care.
• Understand how to access immunization information systems (i.e., immunization registries).

Non-immunizing providers

• Routinely assess the immunization status of patients, recommend needed vaccine(s), and refer patient to an immunizing provider.
• Establish referral relationships with immunizing providers.
• Follow up to confirm patient receipt of recommended vaccine(s).

Immunizing providers

• Ensure professional competencies in immunizations. 
• Assess immunization status in every patient care and counseling encounter and strongly recommend needed vaccine(s).
• Ensure that receipt of vaccination is documented in patient medical record and immunization registry.

Professional health-care related organizations/associations/health-care systems

• Provide immunization education and training of members, including trainees.
• Provide resources and assistance to implement protocols and other systems to incorporate vaccine needs assessment and vaccination or referral into routine practice.
• Encourage members to be up-to-date on their own immunizations.
• Assist members in staying up-to-date on immunization information and recommendations.
• Partner with other immunization stakeholders to educate the public.
• Seek out collaboration opportunities with other immunization stakeholders.
• Collect and share best practices for immunization.
• Advocate policies that support adult immunization standards.
• Insurers/payers/entities that cover adult immunization services should assure their network is adequate to provide timely immunization access and augment with additional vaccine providers if necessary.

Public health departments

• Determine community needs, vaccination capacity, and barriers to adult immunization.
• Provide access to all ACIP-recommended vaccinations for insured and uninsured adults and work toward becoming an in-network provider for immunization services for insured adults.
• Partner with immunization stakeholders and support activities and policies to improve awareness of adult vaccine recommendations, increase vaccination rates, and reduce barriers.
• Ensure professional competencies in immunizations.
• Collect, analyze, and disseminate immunization data.
• Provide outreach and education to providers and the public.
• Work to decrease disparities in immunization coverage and access.
• Increase immunization registry access and use by vaccine providers for adult patients.
• Develop capacity to bill for immunization of injured people.
• Ensure preparedness for identifying and responding to outbreaks of vaccine- preventable diseases.
• Promote adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and standards among adult immunization stakeholders.