For Health Care Providers Serving Adults

Resources to help you make sure adult patients get the immunizations they need.

On this page:
Where can health professionals get information on vaccinating adults?
How can I make vaccination a more routine part of my practice?
How can I educate my patients about vaccines?
How can I help my patients afford vaccines?
How can I determine which vaccines my patients have already had?

Where can health professionals get information on vaccinating adults?

Adult Immunization Schedules
Updated annually, these schedules contain all the information you will need to determine your patients’ vaccination needs.

Adult Immunization Initiative
The American College of Physicians offers a free adult immunization webinar series, the ACP Guide to Adult Immunization, the ACP Immunization Advisor app for iOS devices, and an RSS feed of adult immunization news. Attention: Non-MDH link

Adult Immunization CME Learning Center
Sponsored by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, this Medscape site contains continuing education presentations on many topics related to adult vaccination. The site is free to use, but registration is required. Attention: Non-MDH link

PROTECT Online Webinars
CE/CME credits are available for several free presentations pertinent to adult immunization. Attention: Non-MDH link

Bringing Immunity to Every Community
The American Nurses Association presents this free eLearning course, which provides CE credit. It covers vaccine safety and vaccine-preventable diseases in general and is valid through November 30, 2014. Attention: Non-MDH link

Immunization: You Call the Shots
Increasing Adult Vaccination Rates: What Works
The Association for Prevention Teaching and Research presents two training modules. CME credit is available for "You Call the Shots," which covers immunization generally. Both programs are free. Attention: Non-MDH links

NIP-IT
The Nursing Initiative Promoting Immunization Training (NIP-IT) from the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing consists of six modules on general immunization topics for which nurses may receive CE credits. Free registration is required. Attention: Non-MDH link

CDC Education & Training on Immunization
CDC offers many learning opportunities in broadcast, webcast, DVD, and other formats. Attention: Non-MDH link

MMWR CEs: Serial Publications
CE/CME credit is available for several CDC presentations on immunization. Free registration is required. After registration, use the keyword “immunization” to search for courses. Attention: Non-MDH link

The Vaccine Quarterly
This continuing education publication periodically offers CME credits on immunization topics. Attention: Non-MDH link

Facts About Pneumococcal Disease and Prevention in Adults
Pneumococcal Disease Professional Practice Toolkit
These resources from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases address pneumococcal vaccine recommendations for adults and how to overcome barriers to pneumococcal vaccination. Attention: Non-MDH links

Vaccinate Adults
The Immunization Action Coalition publishes this review of developments in adult vaccination. Attention: Non-MDH link

Clinical Information on:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
HPV
Influenza Pneumococcal
Tetanus
Pertussis
Zoster

CDC provides clinical information, official recommendations, and other references and resources on vaccine-preventable diseases that affect many adults. Attention: Non-MDH links

Order Printed Immunization Materials
Using the fax-back/mail-in form For Professionals, you can order MDH’s three laminated pocket guides – Pneumococcal Vaccination, Pregnancy and Vaccination, and Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention – and other MDH materials for professionals.

STFM Group on Immunization Education: Shots On-line
The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine has developed a free app for iOS and Android devices to provide a quick reference to vaccines your patients may need at every age. Attention: Non-MDH link

CDC Influenza (Flu)
CDC has created a free app for the iPhone and iPad which provides the latest influenza vaccination, testing, and treatment recommendations and updates on disease activity. Attention: Non-MDH link

How can I make vaccination a more routine part of my practice?

PROTECT Adult Practice Tools
A collaboration including the University of Nebraska, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Osteopathic Association presents this selection of resources for keeping your practice up-to-date and efficient in vaccinating adults. Attention: Non-MDH link

Professional Practice Toolkit
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases has created a newsletter article template, answering machine message scripts, and several printable materials to promote adult vaccination in your practice. It also links to adult vaccination protocols from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Attention: Non-MDH link

Best Practices Tip Sheet
The American Academy of Family Physicians compiled this two-page document with concise tips for increasing vaccination rates among patients of all ages. Attention: Non-MDH link

STFM Group on Immunization Education
The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine has published two practice improvement toolkits, one of which addresses adult immunization.

Teaching Immunization Delivery and Evaluation
The Academic Pediatric Association offers educational modules on topics including measuring and improving immunization rates. CE credit is available. Attention: Non-MDH link

Take Charge! Screen and Immunize Before Discharge
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists provides a toolkit with patient and staff education materials, sample policy and procedure documents, and tips on developing a successful immunization program. These materials are oriented toward hospitals, but many could also be useful in clinics. The site also includes podcasts, archived webinars, and written educational materials on improving adult immunization rates in hospitals and across health systems. Attention: Non-MDH link

How can I educate my patients about vaccines?

Vaccines for Adults
MDH has identified several reliable sources of vaccine information for adult patients. Many of them include printable materials you can post in your office or give to individual patients.

Resources for Educating Adult Patients about Vaccines
CDC maintains a collection of print and multimedia materials for adults generally, older adults, pregnant women, travelers, adults with special health conditions, and healthcare workers. Attention: Non-MDH link

Vaccine Education Center
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center has created tear sheets on HPV, shingles, and Tdap vaccines, in addition to its pediatric offerings. A patient education booklet covering all adult vaccines is also available. All are available in English and Spanish; you can print them yourself or order printed copies. Attention: Non-MDH link

Adult Vaccines: A Grown Up Thing to Do
From the American Academy of Microbiology, this sixteen-page color booklet and trifold brochure are available for printing. Attention: Non-MDH link

Pneumococcal Disease Professional Practice Toolkit
This collection of resources from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases includes patient education handouts and reminder materials in Spanish and English. Attention: Non-MDH link

How can I help my patients afford vaccines?

Adult Vaccine Access Algorithm (PDF: 80KB/1 page)
MDH has created a flow chart to help you determine whether your adult patients are eligible for assistance with the costs of vaccination.

Uninsured and Underinsured Adult Vaccine Clinics
Certain health clinics participate in an MDH program that provides free vaccines to qualifying adults. Most locations are community health centers and public health clinics. If you do not practice in a participating clinic, use this clinic locator to find one to which you can refer qualifying patients. To determine whether a patient will qualify for free vaccine at a participating clinic use the Adult Vaccine Access Algorithm listed above.

Helping Your Adult Clients Pay for Vaccines (PDF: 306KB/4 pages)
The second page of this document contains a list compiled by the State of Michigan of vaccine manufacturer patient assistance programs. Attention: Non-MDH link

How can I determine which vaccines my patients have already had?

If you don’t have access to your patient’s full medical history, you can look up your patient’s record in the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC). The adult immunization schedule and General Recommendations on Immunization (attention: Non-MDH link) provide guidance on how to proceed when you are unsure about what vaccines your patient has already received.