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At AVAC’s June briefing, Dr. Ruth Carrico, an infectious disease professor and nurse practitioner from the University of Louisville’s School of Medicine, shared her long-standing success with drive-through influenza vaccination programs, and how they can be replicated in a COVID-19 environment to increase immunization rates.

During AVAC’s June briefing on immunizing in a COVID-19 environment, Dr. Laura Morris explained how she counsels patients on immunization by basing her advice on science and making clear and strong recommendations.

Dr. Laura Lee Hall, President of the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) at the National Minority Quality Forum, spoke at AVAC’s June briefing about the importance of targeting resources to communities of color in order to increase flu immunization rates. particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WomenHeart, the only national organization solely devoted to supporting women living with and at risk of heart disease, understands the importance of ensuring that adults with chronic health conditions have access to recommended vaccines.

April 30th is designated as National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day. Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people who become infected can go on to develop a chronic or lifelong infection. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious liver damage, and even liver cancer.

Experts have suggested a vaccine may be 12 to 18 months away, an optimistic timeline given the intense scrutiny vaccines undergo prior to approval. By planning for a vaccine now, our country can be better prepared to quickly protect everyone in the U.S. from this deadly pandemic. 

It should come as no surprise then that patients are far more likely to receive an immunization when a provider has recommended it. Vaccines are an essential tool in a medical professional’s arsenal of preventive health measures as they strive to keep Americans of all ages and walks of life leading healthy and active lives.