Creating Artificial Barriers to Vaccinations

摘要: Achieving optimum outcomes is difficult enough without creating artificial barriers. Certainly none of us would ever admit to putting up any barrier that prevent our residents from gaining access important medical care; however, it exactly what we have been doing by requiring signed consents for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in long-term care facilities. This a serious issue—a nursing facility respiratory outbreak can easily infect almost two thirds the resulting complications 20%. With estimates as high 70% reducing risk hospitalization death seniors imagine why barriers, let alone artificially created ones, exist. The authors “Factors Predictive Increased Influenza Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage Long-Term Care Facilities: CMS-CDC Standing Orders Program Project” demonstrated fact major achieving higher vaccination rates. Similar results were documented an earlier study published Journal American Geriatrics Society. target 90% set Healthy People 2010 rates at 66% coverage 39% clearly cannot afford be In 2004 article Archives Internal Medicine title publication zeroed on this very issue: “Is consent or polysaccharide required?” Their conclusion was obtaining prior administering vaccines represented obstacle targeted goals vaccinating individuals against disease. Further they found neither legally mandated (with exception state Maryland) nor guarantee patient has given consent. Quite opposite safe guarding one informed there argument action taken health providers reduces such may create legal liability similar withholding recommended effective low-risk treatment aspirin therapy prevention myocardial infarction. addition, previous highlighted most fundamental