Andover Wellness Group

Adult Immunization Programs in Nontraditional Settings: Quality Standards and Guidance for Program Evaluation

BACKGROUND
Approximately 45,000 adults in the United States die annually of complications from influenza, pneumococcal infections, and hepatitis B — the primary vaccine-preventable diseases affecting adults. The total economic cost of treating these vaccine-preventable diseases among adults, excluding the value of years of life lost, exceeds $10 billion each year. Although effective vaccines to prevent these diseases are available, they are widely underutilized (1,2). This under utilization reflects a lack of emphasis on vaccines for adults in comparison with the more substantial emphasis on vaccines for children.