Welcome to the ASN Adult Immunization Project (AIP) Learning and Action Network (LAN) page. This space is to facilitate collaboration between ASN, its partners in the Adult Immunization Project, CMSS, and other participating medical specialty societies. Below you will find the ASN AIP LAN purpose statement, information to support the “pocket guide” resource developed to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccinations for people with kidney disease, and educational offerings created by members of the ASN AIP LAN.
ASN AIP LAN Purpose Statement
Provide dialysis facility level project participants the opportunity to:
- share their experiences, current practices, and interventions;
- explore best practices, lessons learned, and progress toward goal;
- and collaborate on the development of new resources.
Promoting Vaccination in Adults on Dialysis
Members of the ASN AIP LAN provide information on a variety of topics in a short-form video format.
- approaching patients about vaccination
- importance of vaccination for those around you
- when patients are reluctant
- collaborating with staff to promote vaccination
- cultural sensitivity and vaccination
- debunking common myths
- importance of leadership
- importance of educating patients about vaccination
- importance of vaccination for patients
Companion Posters to the “Pocket Guide”
ASN AIP LAN members collaborated to develop a set of posters (in English and Spanish). These posters were designed to be printed on 18″x24″ paper but can be resized to meet your needs. The set includes five posters:
- Page 1. Did you know? COVID-19 has a significant impact on the kidney patient population
- Page 2. COVID-19 is still a threat and poses unique risks to people on dialysis
- Page 3. COVID-19 vaccines are safe
- Page 4. The benefits of being vaccinated (against COVID-19) include
- Page 5. COVID-19 vaccination discussion tips for dialysis facility staff</li.
“Pocket Guide” Resource with Supplemental Information
AIP Pocket Guide Information
Promoting Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccinations for People with Kidney Diseases
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- Vaccination rates are very low — very few dialysis patients in the U.S. are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
- Rates for morbidity and mortality are high: (1) About half of all people with kidney disease had a hospital stay in the first 30 days of a COVID-19 diagnosis and (2) People with kidney diseases were twice as likely (compared to people without kidney diseases) to die within 90 days of a COVID-19 diagnosis.
- COVID-19 poses unique risks to people with kidney diseases: (1) People on dialysis can have weaker immune systems, making it harder to fight infections and (2) People with kidney diseases are at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness.
- COVID-19 had a huge impact on the kidney patient population: An impact so significant (so many patients died) that for the first time in the 50-year history of the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease program, the total number of people on dialysis in the United States declined.
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Over 50 years of NIH-supported laboratory research converged to develop the science and safety of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
- Many years of research led to the COVID-19 vaccines. The science behind the COVID-19 vaccines was NOT rushed. In fact, these vaccines were developed after decades of scientific research.
- All of the traditional steps for testing, evaluation, and review were completed thoroughly. Vaccine developers did not cut corners – they cut government “red tape.” Because the pandemic was a true global emergency, there was a worldwide effort to remove usual bureaucratic hurdles.
The Benefits of Being Vaccinated Against COVID-19
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- Prevents serious illness: COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are safe and effective at protecting people from becoming seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying.
- A safer way to build protection: Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is a more lasting way to build protection than immunity after being sick with a COVID-19 infection. Vaccine-induced immunity offers protection against severe illness for at least six months. Infection-induced immunity diminishes after 90-days.
Promoting Vaccines: Know Facts and Bust Myths
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- Myth: “I had a COVID shot last year.” — Fact: The current vaccine formulation is different from previous years and must be used to fight this year’s COVID-19 variant.
- Myth: “I will get sick from the COVID shot.” — Fact: Acknowledge some people may experience mild side effects (i.e., soreness or minor swelling) and give assurance that the vaccine does not cause illness and does not contain a “live virus.
- Myth: “I feel healthy, so I don’t have to worry.” — Fact: As a dialysis patient or a staff member of a facility, you may be more vulnerable to infections, hospitalizations, complications, or spreading COVID-19.
- test
Stay up to date with COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Everyone 6 months and older can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Learn more. »
Additional Materials
- Material for this resource was adapted from the American Medical Association
“How to Talk to Your Patients About the Influenza Vaccine“ - “Patients hospitalised with influenza, COVID-19 experience similar severe outcomes”
- Find the percentages of dialysis facility patients and dialysis facility staff who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines by month and by state using the CDC COVID Data Tracker (updated monthly)
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations-dialysis-facilities - Understand current COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths, emergency department visits, and test positivity by geographic area using the CDC COVID Data Tracker (updated weekly)
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-rate-county - Review CDC’s “COVID-19 County Check” to find local hospital admission levels and prevention steps by county (updated weekly)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html - How to Tailor COVID-19 Vaccine Information to Your Specific Audience
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/tailoring-information.html
How to be a Vaccine Advocate
This resource, created by the ASN AIP Steering Committee, provides suggestions for engaging staff and patients in a dialysis facility, transplant, or kidney care setting. At this time, participants in the ASN AIP are encouraged to review and provide feedback on this resource.
CDC Recommends Vaccination Before the Holidays
Vaccination rates are lagging this year for flu, Covid, and RSV.
CDC has developed key messages and tools for health care providers to use in this final 2023 effort to protect patients.
Engagement and Education
(Coming soon)
The ASN Adult Immunization Project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) [https://cms-ssaai.org] with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of nor endorsement by CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.
