It’s that time of year again. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a timely opportunity to remind patients of the importance of vaccines. Although it’s difficult to imagine in the midst of the summer heat, influenza (flu) season is right around the corner. To get ahead of the 2023–2024 flu season, now is the ideal time to have proactive conversations with your patients about their plans for getting a flu shot.
The Importance of Proactive Vaccination
Immunization is most effective when our communities are vaccinated before the peak season of the disease. To ensure maximum protection and minimize the impact of the flu, individuals should aim to receive the flu vaccine at the beginning of flu season in September. The CDC recommends that all patients receive their flu vaccine by the end of October to activate herd immunity before peak flu activity, December through February, and to ensure patients receive the full benefits of the vaccine throughout the season.
Healthcare providers are a trusted source and can influence patient decisions and their likelihood of vaccinating at a time that maximizes protection for themselves and their community. The CDC immunization schedule is a helpful resource to introduce immunization into your conversations and reinforce the importance of staying up-to-date with your vaccinations.
Reducing Strain on Healthcare Facilities
By using the summer months to proactively engage patients in conversations about receiving their flu shot, providers are increasing their likelihood of vaccinating patients earlier in the season and minimizing the surge of flu-related hospital visits during peak flu season. During the 2022–2023 season, there were approximately 650,000 flu hospitalizations, with nearly half occurring during peak season. Reducing flu-related hospital visits by administering flu shots ahead of the peak season can help lessen the burden on taxed healthcare providers and increase their capacity to focus on other critical medical needs.
Reminding Early and Often
Many patients intend to get their flu shot, but life can get busy, and getting the shot can be deprioritized or forgotten completely until it’s too late. To increase immunization participation, consider incorporating electronic reminders and automated patient outreach messages that encourage patients to get their flu vaccine. Alternatively, you can offer to provide a flu shot to patients during an existing appointment in the fall or encourage them to schedule an upcoming vaccine appointment before leaving the office. To promote immunization in your local community, your practice can volunteer to host off-site clinics at schools, community centers, or mobile clinics.
Prepping for the 2023–2024 Flu Season
Is your practice prepared to fight the flu? Influenza vaccine distribution generally begins in August and continues through the fall until all vaccines have been distributed. If your practice or clinic has any questions or needs assistance with their flu vaccine order, please contact us. As the leading vaccine purchasing group, Atlantic Health Partners is committed to helping you prepare for the coming flu season.