During this global pandemic, there may be aspects pertaining to health that are not fully appreciated.  One of these areas is immunizations, which is the process where a person is made resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine.

The need for people to receive their scheduled vaccinations has been a topic of discussion for many associations and among healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Examples include:

• Parents adhering to their children’s vaccination schedule to protect them from preventable diseases, such as measles and whooping cough (pertussis).
• Senior citizens, who often have other health complications coupled with a weaker immune system that occurs with aging, to protect against diseases like pneumonia and shingles.

Public health officials are calling for everyone six months and older to get their annual flu vaccination. The goal: reduce flu cases to lessen the impact of respiratory illnesses on the population and burden on the healthcare system during the pandemic.

The recent news of the development of vaccines from manufacturers to combat the coronavirus has generated a lot of anticipation and has provided more awareness of and appreciation for vaccines.  Despite the high level of effectiveness shown from these vaccines during their clinical trials, they must be reviewed and approved by scientific and regulatory experts prior to providing to the general public.  It is anticipated that the initial COVID-19 vaccines will be available for administration to essential personnel and other high-risk groups before the end of 2020.

Associations whose members are essential workers, as well as groups whose members play an active role in administering vaccines, are involved in spreading the message about the importance of immunizations and making sure their members have access to them. 

As the ASAE Research Foundation’s ForesightWorks initiative identified, population health focuses on how a group or organization can work toward improving health outcomes for a community they serve, including their own staff. Many associations and their members play valuable role when it comes to immunizations, which are an essential population health service. Here is a look at two of them:

Education

Associations are involved in educating healthcare providers and the public regarding immunization issues.  The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is comprised of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the safe use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States. ACIP has 30 liaison member representatives from national associations. Its recommendations influence the content of the education provided by associations to their members and to the public.

An additional source of information is the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), a 501 (C)(3) organization working to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for healthcare professionals and the public. IAC has an advisory board composed of many health and public health associations representatives and has 137 affiliated state and regional networks across the U.S.

Practice

Many association members are essential workers, including those in food and agriculture, emergency services, transportation, healthcare, government and community-based services, manufacturing, and facility services. 

Since many essential workers interact directly with patients or handle material that could spread infection, they need to have access to immunizations in order to protect themselves, their families, and those they serve. 

Because of this, associations whose members are essential workers, as well as groups whose members play an active role in administering vaccines, are involved in spreading the message about the importance of immunizations and making sure their members have access to them. According to Mitchel C. Rothholz, chief of governance and state affiliates at the American Pharmacists Association and an IAC advisory board member, more than 360,000 pharmacists have been trained to administer vaccines. Many within the healthcare and public health communities support a concept coined by APhA called the “immunization neighborhood,” which is built upon collaboration, coordination, and communication to meet the public’s immunization needs and protect society from vaccine-preventable diseases. 

However, all associations—no matter their mission or members—have a role pertaining to immunizations now and in the future, including

• communicating all aspects of your association’s health-related benefits, including immunizations, to your staff
• collaborating with other associations/organizations if there is a role for your association regarding immunizations, such as in education, research, or practice.

As our world moves closer to a post-COVID-19 state, it is important that we keep aspects pertaining to population health in mind to protect ourselves and serve public health.