Policy Statement on Pneumococcal Vaccination

Background:

Pneumococcal disease is known to have a potentially serious impact in frail individuals, particularly those residing in post-acute and long-term care settings where outbreaks have been demonstrated and which could have been prevented by adequate vaccination.

Two pneumococcal vaccines are currently licensed and readily available in the United States.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has conducted an extensive evaluation use of these vaccines in adults, demonstrating significant potential benefit in terms of disease prevention and disease attenuation.

AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute & Long-Term Care Medicine (the Society) has received a number of questions from its members regarding pneumococcal vaccinations.

Guidance:

The Society strongly advocates that Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) facilities and providers establish and maintain a pneumococcal vaccination program that provides residents with access to current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended pneumococcal vaccinations.

Such a program would include a requirement to assess PALTC residents for their pneumococcal vaccination status and to administer and document appropriate pneumococcal vaccinations in accordance with current ACIP and CDC guidance, unless the PALTC resident declines or has a medical contraindication or allergy.

In addition, the Society recommends that PALTC facilities and providers demonstrate an ongoing commitment to Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) by evaluating and addressing their pneumococcal vaccination programs if vaccine acceptance rates fall below U.S. Department of Health and Human Services goals.

Version 04/29/2016 12 PM

Approved IAC 4/29/2016

Approved AMDA BOD 5/23/2016

For more information, click here.