Page 10 - OCMS3Q21

COMMUNITY HEALTH
Make a Strong
Flu Vaccine Recommendation
Information for Health Care Professionals
CDC recommends everyone six months and older get an influenza vaccine every year. Influenza vaccine has been shown to prevent millions of influenza illnesses, tens of thousands of hospitalizations, and thousands of deaths each year.
Your Vaccine Recommendation is Critical
As a health care professional (HCP), your strong recommendation is a critical factor in whether your patients get an influenza vaccine. Most adults believe vaccines are important, but
they may need a reminder from you to get vaccinated. After making your recommendation, follow up with each patient during subsequent appointments to ensure the patient received
an influenza vaccine. If the patient is still unvaccinated, repeat the recommendation
and try to identify and address any questions
or concerns.
When to Vaccinate
• CDC recommends that influenza vaccination should be offered in September or October. However, vaccination should continue throughout influenza season as long as influenza viruses are circulating, even into January or later.
» Children and pregnant people in their third trimester can be vaccinated as soon as influenza vaccine is available—even if this is in July or August.
» Adults, and especially those older than 65, should not be vaccinated early (in July or August) as immunity wanes more quickly in this age group.
• If you do not offer vaccine at your facility,
make an influenza vaccine referral, and then follow up with each patient during subsequent appointments to ensure they got vaccinated.
If the patient remains unvaccinated, repeat the recommendation/referral and try to identify and address any questions or concerns.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | WWW.OCMS-MI.ORG