The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Project Increases Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates in Rheumatology Patients

Project Increases Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates in Rheumatology Patients

August 26, 2015 • By Will Boggs, MD

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A multicomponent intervention can significantly increase pneumococcal vaccination rates in pediatric rheumatology patients, researchers report.

You Might Also Like
  • Synthetic DMARDs May Blunt Pneumococcal Vaccine Response in Systemic Sclerosis
  • IBD Tied to Higher Risk of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
  • Vaccinations for Immunocompromised Patients Are Shared Responsibility of Specialists, Primary Care Physicians

“The interventions outlined in our article can easily be implemented in pediatric rheumatology practices or other subspecialty clinics,” Dr. Julia G. Harris from Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., told Reuters Health by email. “It takes additional time, but is well worth the effort to improve the care of our patients.”

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Deficient immune systems and immunosuppressive medications can place pediatric rheumatology patients at an increased risk of pneumococcal disease. These high-risk patients could benefit from the recommended vaccination with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) followed by the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).

Before the intervention, only 6.7% of 305 patients at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Rheumatology Clinic, Milwaukee, the site of the study, were up to date on PCR 13, 8.9% were up to date for PPSV23, and none were up to date for both vaccines.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Dr. Harris’s team initiated a quality improvement project they hoped would increase PCV13 rates to 30% in the first four months.

The intervention included a discussion meeting, purchase of sufficient stocks of vaccine to implement the program, a formal presentation to providers and nurses of the current vaccination recommendations, and an immunization algorithm they displayed throughout the clinic to allow providers to determine if a pneumococcal vaccine was indicated.

In addition, weekly emails notified providers and nurses of scheduled patients who needed vaccination, and PCV13 or PPSV23 notices were stapled to the clinical encounter forms of patients who required vaccination.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The program was extended from four months to 13 months, during which average vaccination rates increased to 48.4% for PCV13, 28.4% for PPSV23, and 23.2% for both vaccines (all p<0.001), according to the Aug. 24 Pediatrics online report.

“Pneumococcal vaccination with both PCV13 and PPSV23 is important for patients on medications that suppress the immune system, in addition to other high-risk patients,” Dr. Harris said. “Simple interventions involving education and previsit planning can lead to improved vaccination rates.”

“Having motivated providers and staff in addition to a standardized process are also essential for patients to get this important preventative measure and reduce their risk of pneumococcal disease,” Dr. Harris said.

She added, “The study’s methodology to increase pneumococcal vaccination for patients at high risk for pneumococcal disease is widely applicable for both primary care and subspecialty providers in both pediatric and adult settings.”

The authors reported no external funding or relevant disclosures.

Pages: 1 2 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes Tagged With: Pediatric Rheumatology, pneumococcal vaccine, vaccination

You Might Also Like:
  • Synthetic DMARDs May Blunt Pneumococcal Vaccine Response in Systemic Sclerosis
  • IBD Tied to Higher Risk of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
  • Vaccinations for Immunocompromised Patients Are Shared Responsibility of Specialists, Primary Care Physicians
  • Shingles Vaccination Not at Goal Levels for U.S. Seniors

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)