At every age, vaccination is one of the simplest, safest, and most effective ways to protect one’s health. However, adult vaccination rates continue to lag those of children and infants, creating a persistent coverage gap linked to higher disease burden for older and at-risk adults. In 2022, for instance, only 22.8% of adults aged 19 and older were current on all recommended vaccines, leaving millions of adults vulnerable to vaccine-preventable illnesses such as influenza, shingles, pneumococcal disease, and COVID-19.
For healthcare providers, this gap represents an important opportunity. Vaccines provide the greatest protection to individual and public health when immunization is high, widespread, and consistent across populations. By normalizing vaccination as part of lifelong preventive care, providers can help adults stay healthier longer and reduce the broader impacts of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Why Adult Vaccination Matters
Immunity isn’t permanent for every disease. Some vaccines require boosters over time, while others—like those developed for shingles or newer strains of COVID-19—are only recommended in adulthood. In both cases, routine vaccination is required to ensure ongoing protection.
Although vaccine recommendations for adults have expanded in recent years, coverage rates continue to trail behind where public health experts hope to see them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than one third of adults under 65 with increased risk for pneumococcal disease have received the appropriate vaccine. Likewise, less than 50 percent of eligible adults are up to date on their shingles vaccination. Discrepancies like these increase the likelihood of preventable hospitalizations, missed workdays, and higher healthcare costs, especially among older adults and those with chronic conditions.
Beyond individual health outcomes, improving adult vaccine uptake has important socioeconomic effects. Vaccines reduce disease transmission, protect those who can’t be vaccinated due to medical conditions, and ease the strain on healthcare systems during high-illness seasons. A report from the Office of Health Economics (OHE) found that adult vaccination programs can save billions in healthcare costs annually by preventing hospitalizations and complications related to influenza, pneumococcal infections, and shingles. These initiatives play an essential role in boosting economic productivity and community health and reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases for a stronger, more resilient healthcare system.
Barriers to Adult Immunization
Several factors contribute to lower vaccination rates among adults. Understanding these barriers can help healthcare teams design outreach programs and workflows that better meet patient needs.
Awareness and Education
Many adults assume vaccines are “something you get as a kid,” or that they remain protected for life. Others may not realize they’re due for a booster or that new vaccines are now available. Research shows that a direct recommendation from a trusted healthcare provider strongly increases the likelihood that an adult will receive a vaccine. Regular empathetic conversations during appointments can go a long way toward increasing awareness and confidence.
Accessibility and Affordability
Even when patients are willing to be vaccinated, practical obstacles such as cost, confusion around insurance coverage, market complexity, or vaccine supply shortages can inhibit immunization. Some adults may assume certain vaccines aren’t covered under their plan, while others may not know that most recommended adult vaccines are fully covered as preventive services under the Affordable Care Act. Providers can help by clearly communicating coverage details, connecting uninsured patients to community programs or public health clinics, and ensuring their practice maintains reliable vaccine inventory.
Time and Convenience
Even adults who intend to get vaccinated may struggle to find the time. Competing work schedules, limited transportation, and uncertainty about cost can all delay care. Offering flexible scheduling, same-day vaccine appointments, or partnerships with local pharmacies can make vaccination more convenient and reduce missed opportunities.
System and Workflow Challenges
Because adults often receive care across multiple settings—primary care, pharmacies, urgent care centers—vaccination records can be fragmented or incomplete. Implementing reminder systems, using Immunization Information Systems (IIS), or setting up alerts within electronic health records can help practices identify who’s due for a vaccine and prompt timely follow-up.
Practical Ways to Strengthen Adult Immunization
To help close the coverage gap, healthcare providers can implement these simple, sustainable steps:
Make vaccination a standing agenda item. Integrate vaccine reviews into annual checkups and chronic-care visits. Even a brief reminder during an appointment can prompt patients to take action.
Use clear, personalized communication. Framing vaccine conversations around a patient’s overall health and preventive care goals helps make the discussion more meaningful. Positioning vaccination as part of healthy aging emphasizes its value beyond disease prevention.
Educate your care team. When all staff members understand the latest adult vaccine recommendations and coverage details, patients can receive consistent, accurate guidance at every touchpoint.
Track, recall, and celebrate progress. Monitor adult vaccination patterns within your practice to understand where additional outreach is needed. Friendly reminders, targeted follow-up, and celebrating improvements such as year-over-year increases in flu vaccine uptake can help motivate staff and reinforce progress toward better patient outcomes.
By incorporating these steps into everyday care conversations, providers can help turn vaccine awareness into timely and preventive action. These discussions remind patients that staying up to date on routine vaccination is just as important in adulthood as it was in childhood
Partnering Toward Prevention
Promoting adult immunization doesn’t require major workflow changes, just consistent, proactive communication and a commitment to making vaccines accessible. At Atlantic Health Partners, we support providers in improving vaccine access and affordability. Our members gain access to preferred pricing, expert guidance, and the resources needed to manage vaccine inventory with confidence.
Reach out to learn how Atlantic Health Partners can help your practice strengthen adult immunization efforts and support a healthier community.