Pneumonia Vaccination - Age 65+ in Kansas

Kansas

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all adults age 65 and older receive a vaccine that helps protect against pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease refers to any infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. These bacteria can cause many kinds of infections, including pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and meningitis. While most pneumococcal infections are mild, some can be fatal, or lead to long-term complications like brain damage or hearing loss. 

Hospitalization and death rates from pneumococcal infections are highest among older adults. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) are the two types of vaccines recommended to protect against pneumococcal disease in the United States. The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease decreased significantly with the introduction and uptake of pneumococcal vaccines in adults and children.

Every year, approximately 1.5 million individuals in the U.S. are diagnosed with pneumonia, and of these, 1 million are hospitalized. Despite the increased risk older adults face, pneumococcal vaccination rates among older adults in the U.S. remain below recommended levels, especially within racial and ethnic minority groups.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of pneumococcal vaccination is higher among:

• Older women compared with older men. 
• White older adults compared with older adults who are Hawaiian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic. 
• Older adults who are college graduates compared with those with less than a high school education. 
• Older adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more compared with those with incomes less than $25,000. 
• Older adults who have difficulty hearing compared with adults without a disability. 
• Older adults who have served in the U.S. armed forces compared with those who have not served.

Strategies to increase pneumococcal vaccinations among older adults include: 

• Providing point-of-care information such as flyers and posters that encourage pneumococcal vaccination in locations caring for older adults, particularly in areas with low-income populations. 
• Vaccine reminders and strong recommendations from health care providers. 
• Increasing convenient access to vaccination in locations beyond the doctor’s office, such as pharmacies or retail settings. 
• Establishing adult immunizations as standard for routine patient care, like childhood vaccinations.
• Encouraging health care professionals to thoroughly document their patients’ vaccine history. 

Additionally, the American Academy of Family Physicians has established grants to support quality improvement initiatives to increase the rates of pneumococcal vaccinations among adults in Kansas, Illinois and New Jersey.

Healthy People 2030 has an objective to reduce the rate of hospital admissions for pneumonia among older adults.

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