Immunizations
Adults never outgrow the need for immunizations. An annual vaccination is the most effective method of preventing influenza. A single vaccination can prevent the most common form of bacterial pneumonia (a second shot is recommended for individuals that received their initial vaccination before the age of 65 and for those with certain chronic medical conditions).
Medicare covers an annual vaccination for influenza, and one lifetime vaccine for pneumonia. Additional pneumococcal vaccines may be covered for some individuals based upon their specific risk factors. It is particularly important for older people to be immunized because flu and pneumonia mortality rates increase with age. Most pneumonia deaths and approximately 90% of all flu deaths occur in adults over age 65.
In addition to advising a group of physician practices about using electronic health records to increase rates of influenza and pneumonia immunization, VHQC encourages all primary care physicians to immunize their Medicare patients.
Links to basic information are provided below. For additional materials, visit the Resource Center to browse tools and references, and go to the MedQIC website.
