Adult Immunization Project Mission
Promote the adoption of CDC’s Standards of Adult Immunization Practices in nephrology care and facilitate uptake of routine vaccinations recommended for people with kidney diseases.
Why focus on adult immunizations?
- Adult vaccination rates are extremely low.
- Most adults are NOT aware that they need vaccines.
- Recommendation from their healthcare professional is the strongest predictor of whether patients get vaccinated.
- There are many missed opportunities for vaccination because many healthcare professionals are not routinely assessing vaccination status.
Adult Immunization Project Summary
ASN is one of seven specialty societies partnering with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their “Specialty Societies Advancing Adult Immunizations (SSAAI)” initiative. The goals of this five-year project (started in September 2021) are to increase the adoption of the CDC’s Standards of Adult Immunization Practices (SAIP) and the delivery of recommended vaccinations through the broad spectrum of nephrology care. ASN directs this work through a Steering Committee composed of kidney doctors, nurses, researchers, and immunization leaders. ASN will deploy effective strategies focusing on COVID-19 and Influenza immunizations through 2023; then, the focus will expand to include all adult vaccinations recommended for people with kidney diseases.
Strategies
- Leadership = leading the project is a Task Force made of vaccination experts, change champions, and clinical leaders.
- Engagement and Spread = involving up to seven dialysis corporations with a minimum of 14 dialysis facilities, inviting participants to join in learning sessions, and creating knowledge-sharing opportunities.
- Resource Curation and Creation = finding, using, and developing tools and resources to support immunization standard practices and vaccine delivery.
- Continuous Quality Improvement = assessing current processes, collecting data and information, providing reports and feedback to participants, and celebrating successes.
Spotlight
New COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations have been updated as of February 28, 2024, to recommend adults ages 65 years and over receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Update on SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.2.86 Being Tracked by CDC
CDC is tracking a SARS-CoV-2 variant called BA.2.86 and working to better understand its potential impact on public health.
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
This interim guidance has been updated based on currently available information about COVID-19 and the current situation in the United States. Updates were made to reflect the high levels of vaccine-and infection-induced immunity and the availability of effective treatments and prevention tools. This guidance provides a framework for facilities to implement select infection prevention and control practices (e.g., universal source control) based on their individual circumstances (e.g., levels of respiratory virus transmission in the community). Update as of May 8, 2023: Added appendix to assist facilities with how and when to implement broader use of source control, including examples of potential metrics, i.e., “Considerations for Implementing Broader Use of Masking in Healthcare Settings.”
Statement on Immunizations from the ASN
ASN encourages all health professionals who interact with kidney patients to follow immunization recommendations from the CDC in order to reduce the risks from vaccine-preventable illnesses in people with kidney diseases.
Review the Statement on Immunizations in the Kidney Community to learn more about the recommendations for adult immunizations.
Activities
Resource Library
Immunization policies, procedures, and currently available standards are listed in the Adult Immunization Project (AIP) Resource Library.
Adult Immunization Project Learning and Action Network (LAN)
ASN will host quarterly “Learning and Action Network” sessions to facilitate quality and process improvements, share knowledge, and brainstorm solutions to barriers among the project participants. The ASN community will share opportunities to contribute to focus groups or environmental scans.
On-Demand Learning
Training materials for kidney patients and community staff members will be developed using human design and adult learning principles. The needs of the kidney community will be the driving force in the construction of education materials and vaccination program implementation resources.
Quality Loop: Assessment, Feedback, Incentives, and Exchange
ASN will adopt a continuous quality improvement approach with the dialysis corporations/facilities partnering in this project.
