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Barriers to adult immunizations and strategies to improve coverag | 48573

Primary Health Care: Open Access

ISSN - 2167-1079

Barriers to adult immunizations and strategies to improve coverage

Annual Congress & Medicare Expo on Primary Healthcare

April 25-27, 2016 Dubai, UAE

Litty Varghese

Ambulatory Healthcare Services-SEHA, UAE

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Primary Health Care

Abstract :

Vaccination against childhood communicable diseases through the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions available. Most causes of vaccine preventable illness among children are relatively uncommon due to high rates of vaccination and very effective vaccines. Adult vaccination is one of the most important tool for reducing morbidity and mortality not just in the elderly but in other members of the society by increasing herd immunity, reducing severe clinical outcome and helping in eradication of the disease. The immunization program overall has been very successful with kids. We are not doing so well with adults. Adults are recommended to receive vaccinations based on their age, underlying medical conditions, lifestyle, prior vaccinations, and other considerations. Although provider recommendation is a key predictor of vaccination, more often clients report not receiving vaccine recommendations at healthcare provider visits. Other barriers for vaccinating adults include the cost of providing vaccination services, inadequate or inconsistent payment for vaccines and vaccine administration, and acute medical care taking precedence over preventive services. Despite these challenges, a number of strategies have been demonstrated to substantially improve adult vaccine coverage, including patient and provider reminders and standing orders for vaccination. Providers are encouraged to incorporate routine assessment of their adult patients' vaccination needs during all clinical encounters to ensure patients receive recommendations for needed vaccines and are either offered needed vaccines or referred for vaccination.

Biography :

Litty Varghese; RN; MSN is working as A/Head of Nursing Education, AHS/SEHA, UAE. She has 34 years of experience in the field of PHC, UAE and has expertise as JCIA chapter lead and tracer team member, quality improvement coordinator, diabetic clinic project coordinator, community program organizer, nurse educator, newsletter editor and researcher. She holds Master’s Degree in Community Nursing, Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing Administration and obtained certification in Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics from CDC, Atlanta. With her continuance in excellent professionalism, she won the First SEHA BEST EMPLOYEE Award 2012, the 3rd Best Abstract Award at The Pan Arab Hypertension Conference in Abu Dhabi Feb. 5-9, 2000, and actively participated in winning the following Awards: 2009 ARAB HEALTH AWARD FOR PHC Chronic Disease program; 2010 ARAB HEALTH AWARD FOR Nursing HR development.

Email: litty_varghese@hotmail.com

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