Joint Commission Aims to Increase Tdap Vaccination of Adults and Adolescent

February 1, 2011

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/New-Monograph-From-The-Joint-Commission-Aims-Increase-Tdap-Vaccination-Adults-Adolescents-1388653.htm

Feb 01, 2011 12:55 ET

New Monograph From The Joint Commission Aims to Increase Tdap

Vaccination of Adults and AdolescentsOAKBROOK TERRACE,

IL--(Marketwire - February 1, 2011) - Pertussis rates have

increased over the last two decades, primarily in adolescents and adults

who have waning immunity from previous pertussis vaccinations or

infection; however, it is infants who are too young to be vaccinated that

bear the burden of severe pertussis. Low vaccination rates against

pertussis among adolescents and adults are a contributing factor to the

rise of the highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease, commonly

known as whooping cough.

A new monograph from The Joint Commission, " Tdap Vaccination

Strategies for Adolescents and Adults, Including Health Care Personnel --

Strategies from Research and Practice, " aims to help health care

organizations implement or enhance tetanus, diphtheria and acellular

pertussis (Tdap) vaccination programs for adolescents and adults,

including health care workers who can both acquire pertussis from and

spread it to patients, other staff and family members.

Pertussis is the most common vaccine-preventable childhood disease and

can be more severe than often assumed. Most pertussis-related deaths

occur in infants younger than 4 months. All infants less than 6 months of

age, and any infant who has not yet received three doses of

pertussis-containing vaccine, are especially vulnerable to pertussis

infection and often require hospitalization for supportive care for

coughing spasms and feeding difficulties. Adolescents and adults with

pertussis generally have mild symptoms that do not require

hospitalization.

The Tdap vaccine has been available only since 2005 and information from

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that

vaccination rates for adults are very low. Tdap vaccination rates among

health care workers stands at about 16 percent, according to the CDC,

despite the evidence that Tdap improves patient outcomes and reduces

staff illness and absenteeism.

The CDC reports that adults may not realize that some of the vaccines

they received in childhood will not protect them throughout their lives

or that newer vaccines have been developed since they were first

immunized. In addition, some adults simply were never vaccinated. These

adolescents and adults play a significant role in the transmission of

pertussis to vulnerable infants at home, in the community, and in health

care and day care settings.

The monograph, which was supported by an educational grant from sanofi

pasteur, was produced and published in partnership with infection

prevention and infectious disease leaders from the Association for

Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC), the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Society for

Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the National Foundation for

Infectious Diseases (NFID).

" Recent pertussis outbreaks should be a reminder of how serious and

contagious pertussis can be and the value of Tdap vaccination, " said

Jerod M. Loeb, Ph.D., executive vice president, Division of Healthcare

Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission. " This monograph includes

strategies that organizations can implement and provides a foundation to

improve vaccination rates among key populations. It is also a timely

reminder that vaccinations save lives. "

The monograph includes:

Information about pertussis and the Tdap vaccine. Barriers to successful Tdap vaccination programs and strategies for

overcoming them. Evidence-based guidelines and literature that highlight practical

Tdap vaccination strategies. Examples of initiatives that organizations have used to establish or

enhance their Tdap vaccination programs.

The Joint Commission solicited leading practices to incorporate into the

monograph and received more than 80 submissions from health care

organizations. A subset of submissions was evaluated by the project's

editorial review panel; ultimately, 17 submissions were included in the

monograph.

Electronic copies of the monograph are available on The Joint

Commission's Web site at

www.jointcommission.org, and

can be downloaded free of charge.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve

health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by

evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in

providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The

Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care

organizations and programs in the United States, including more than

9,700 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other

health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health

care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. In addition, The Joint

Commission also provides certification of more than 1,700

disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care

staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint

Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and

accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at

www.jointcommission.org.

View the multi-media release here:

http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2011/joint_commission/tdap/

Media Contact:

Eaken Zhani

Media Relations Manager

630.792.5914

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630.792.5914

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Email Contact

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

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February 1, 2011