One of the Network’s priorities is to support facility staff in ensuring that patients receive appropriate vaccinations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides vaccination recommendations for ESRD patients in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(MMWR); two of the recommended vaccines (pneumococcal pneumonia and hepatitis B) are a focus of one of the Network’s quality improvement activities.
According to the CDC, approximately 18,000 patients die each year from pneumococcal disease, and treatment with antibiotics is becoming less effective, due to drug resistant bacteria. Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver, with 2,000 to 4,000 patients dying from cirrhosis or liver cancer each year. Vaccines offer a safe and effective way for individuals to protect themselves from serious illness. Please use the information in the resources below as talking points for conversations with your patients and your staff members regarding the importance and the benefits of vaccinations.
Vaccinations and antibodies are tracked in CROWNWeb, and facility vaccination rates are reported to the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
For additional information/resources on National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM):
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam.html
- National Public Health Information Coalition: https://www.nphic.org/niam
For CDC Vaccine Information Statements (VIS):
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/pcv13.html
- Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23) https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/ppv.html
- Hepatitis B Vaccine https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.html