We all look forward to the holiday season. Unfortunately, because the weather is colder and we are coming together inside with friends and family, there is also the possibility of exposure to contagious diseases like Flu and COVID-19.
We know that vaccines save lives! Data shows us that over 50,000 adult deaths were attributable to vaccine preventable diseases These deaths can be prevented. As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic and misinformation that is spread on social media, vaccine confidence – the trust people have in vaccines – is impacted. Adult vaccination rates remain below the Healthy People 2020 targets for Flu and several other vaccines.
What can we, as nurses, do to help? Nurses can be a resource for providing credible and science-based information on vaccines and resources for vaccines to our patients. This education can be lifesaving and lead to increased vaccination rates with fewer illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths for our patients and family. Sometimes it just takes hearing the recommendation from a trusted provider to make a difference in compliance.
What about our own health? Vaccine protection is important in maintaining our health as caregivers too. The American Nurses Association, the nurses’ professional organization, stresses the professional and ethical responsibility of nurses with regards to vaccines. In addition to protecting ourselves and our clients, we model the importance of vaccines and foster trust. We have an essential role in protecting our patients’ health with vaccines.
Resources about recommended vaccines can be found on the CDC website at cdc.gov/vaccines. Many health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover the cost of Flu and COVID-19 vaccines, as well as children’s vaccines. It is hoped that, with advocacy, the Federal government will one day provide a “Vaccines for Adults” program, as they do a “Vaccines for Children” program now.
Debbie Hogan is a retired Public Health Nurse who has devoted her career to promoting community health issues and preventive healthcare. She has presented numerous programs to Florida Nurses Association members on public health issues, as well as articles in the “Florida Nurse” on preventive health issues, the importance of vaccines and the critical role of public health professionals.
References
American College of Preventive Medicine. (2024). We’re Vaccine Confident. You can be too! https://www.acpm.org/initiatives/power-of-prevention/vaccine-confident/
American College of Preventive Medicine. (May 2023). Vaccines Save Millions of Lives Every Year. From https://www.acpm.org/initiatives/power-of-prevention/vaccine-confident
American Lung Association. (n.d.) How can providers increase vaccine confidence? https://www.lung.org/getmedia/babf2919-37c1-46cb-9e94-fd4842498f84/ALA_HCP_Vaccine_Confidence_factsheet_web.pdf
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Silver Springs, MD. from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/
Carpenter H, Hall D. Getting shots in arms. American Nurse Journal. 2023;18(11):25-25. doi:10.51256/anj112325 https://www.myamericannurse.com/getting-shots-in-arms/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2016). Adult Vaccination Information for Healthcare and Public Health Professionals. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/adults/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Vaccinate with confidence: Strategy to reinforce confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/vaccinate-with-confidence.html
Pettis, Jennifer. Reviving Reverence for Vaccines. American Nurse Journal. 2024; 19 (10):35 https://www.myamericannurse.com/reviving-reverence-for-vaccines/.
