Tips to increase patient vaccinations

Identify your 'at risk' patients

Establish and activate a reminder system to prompt discussion of influenza vaccination with at risk patients. Provider reminder systems can include notations, electronic prompts, stickers on patient files and standardised checklists generated from databases and registries.

There are tools to help you identify who is at risk in your practice. As an example, instructions are provided below for searching databases in Medical Director to create a list of 'at risk' patients.

Pneumovax Medical Director instructions (167KB, PDF)

Inform your patients

GPs, practice and immunisation nurses, and pharmacists can play a critical role in educating patients to understand who is at risk, how those risks will impact on them and their family, how the vaccine will help them, the difference between influenza and a common cold and the safety of the vaccine.

Some practices use reminders to tell people over 65 years of age and at risk patients that they are due for their annual vaccination. The form of reminder may vary from opportunistic to planned in the form of a letter, email, SMS or phone call, depending on the wishes of the patient. (see reminder letter template in the Fight flu toolkit)

Some practices use closed circuit TV, practice newsletters or a column in the local newspaper to educate patients about who is at risk and the benefits of vaccination.

Ensure access to vaccination

A timely and adequate supply of vaccine, together with a streamlined process of vaccination delivery were some of the key factors to increasing vaccination identified by doctors and patients in NICS' research. You may consider:

• Keeping a stock of private vaccines for the at risk under 65s
• Establishing 'vaccination clinics' to streamline delivery and increase patient convenience
• Offering on-site vaccination clinics to large local organisations
• Using Practice Nurses to educate and assist in administering vaccinations (item numbers are available for this)
• Using immunisation nurses to run additional influenza vaccination clinics after hours or on Saturday mornings, as many at risk people will still be in the work force and unable to attend weekday clinics in normal business hours.