Pneumococcal Disease Call to Action: Pneumococcal Vaccination is Everyone's Responsiblity

This information sheet is the result of a task force organized by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases to identify strategies for healthcare professionals to increase adult pneumococcal vaccination rates. Through large group discussions and smaller working sessions focused on specific patient populations, the task force identified ways that all healthcare workers can employ to increase vaccination rates in their different roles, including: all healthcare professionals, who can educate patients and caregivers and strongly urge patients to receive all vaccinations; physicians, who can drive implementation of systems in their practices to promote vaccinating all at-risk patients; physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, who can prescribe and administer vaccines and lead in-office efforts to use educational materials like posters, signs, and fliers; specialists, who can screen, educate, and refer patients to vaccination venues; pharmacists, who can administer pneumococcal vaccine to recommended adults; public health officials, who can educate community members and offer pneumococcal vaccination or arrange for vaccination opportunities elsewhere in the community; support staff, who can be given ownership of important prevention activities, particularly patient screening, notification, and chart preparation with reminder materials for physicians, nurses, etc.; and hospital staff, who can advocate for and/or implement standing orders programs and make sure electronic medical records reflect needed vaccines.