bination helps sway patients,” she said. Dr. Fuller says many of her patients rely on her for primary care.
“I have some patients who see me once a year but don’t see an internist or family physician. It’s my job to provide the whole package of preventive health services,” she said. Immunizations are part of the pack- age. In her practice, Dr. Fuller says pregnant women and those who plan to become pregnant are the most vaccine compliant.
“I educate these patients by provid- ing them with factual brochures about flu and Tdap vaccines. Once they real- ize these shots will protect their babies from potentially deadly diseases, they get them,” Dr. Fuller said. Unfortunately, she encounters vac-
cine resistance more commonly from her gynecology patients. These women tend to be more likely to decline the influenza vaccine, for instance.
“In my experience, women are will- ing to get the flu shot to protect their unborn babies. I don’t know why, but they’re not as willing to get the vaccine to protect their own health,” Dr. Fuller said.
She estimates only about half of her gynecology patients consent to the flu vaccine. She says Tdap compliance among these same patients is much higher.
“That could be because Tdap is recom- mended to be given every 10 years, not every year like the flu vaccine,” she said. Dr. Terk says flu vaccine is a victim of the urban myth that the shot actually causes influenza. “And the risk of influenza disease has always been inappropriately minimized unless we are experiencing a pandemic,” he said.
Erica Swegler, MD, a Keller family physician and member of the Be Wise — Immunize Advisory Panel, also runs into resistance when trying to persuade adults to get vaccinated against flu. She hopes approval of a new flu vaccine made without eggs, called FluBlok, will increase vaccination among adults with egg allergies. ACIP voted last year to recommend the vaccine for use in adults aged 18 to 49.
Resources to spread vaccine facts
The TMA Be Wise — Immunize physician toolkits for children and adolescents help physicians implement vaccination best practices in the office. The toolkits tell physicians and staff members how to use ImmTrac, the Texas immunization registry; join the Texas Vaccines for Children program; and talk to par- ents about conscientious objection. To access the toolkits, visit
www.texmed.org/bewise, and click on What Does Be Wise — Immunize Offer for Physicians? One of the Be Wise — Immunize program’s main goals is to
communicate that vaccines are important, safe, and effective. To aid physicians, the website features a variety of vaccination fact sheets, available in English and Spanish, regarding vacci- nations recommended for children and adults. Physicians can request copies of these handouts from TMA and share them with patients as educational tools. To request the handouts, contact Tammy Wishard, TMA outreach coordinator, by tele- phone at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1470, or (512) 370-1470, or by email,
tammy.wishard@texmed.org. The TMA Foundation grants TMA funds for its Be Wise — Immunize program, thanks to major gifts from H-E-B and the TMF Health Quality Institute, and gifts from physicians and their families. The program began in 2004. In addition, the vaccine safety webpage of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
http://1.usa.gov/8LUdUT, has up-to-date information and resources. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),
http://1.usa .gov/8vhyQI, has the latest immunization recommendations and schedules. The Immunization Action Coalition website,
www.immunize
.org, features clinic resources, vaccine information statements, and a section devoted to talking to patients about vaccines. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) also
is active in educating Texas physicians and patients about vac- cine safety and effectiveness through the Texas Vaccines for Children program. Information about vaccine education and safety is available on the DSHS website,
http://bit.ly/1iKMKbT. The department works closely with the Texas Pediatric Society and TMA to educate medical professionals.
January 2014 TEXAS MEDICINE 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60