Adult Pneumococcal Vaccination in Ghana: Current Status and Future Recommendations - Expert Opinion.

Vaccination programs have proven successful in the prevention and control of infectious diseases among children on a global scale, but the majority of adult populations remain unvaccinated. immunocompromised adults as well as older adults aged low-income countries as Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among 65 years and above. Despite the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), the burden of vaccine-type serotypes remains high in there are no clear policies for adult vaccination. As per the Global Burden of Disease 2019 report, about 120,000 individuals aged 70 years and older died as a result of LRTIs) in sub-Saharan Africa. A medical advisory board meeting was conducted in April 2022 to discuss the burden of pneumococcal diseases in adults, the current status of policies and practices of adult vaccination, unmet needs, and challenges in Ghana. This expert opinion paper outlines the pneumococcal epidemiology and burden of disease in Ghana, as well as the rationale for adult pneumococcal vaccination. It also highlights the potential barriers to adult vaccination and offers recommendations to overcome these obstacles and enhance vaccine acceptance in Ghana.

Les programmes de vaccination ont prouvé leur succès dans la prévention et le contrôle des maladies infectieuses chez les enfants à l'échelle mondiale, mais la majorité des populations adultes restent non vaccinées. Les infections à Streptococcus pneumoniae sont associées à une morbidité et une mortalité substantielles chez les adultes immunodéprimés ainsi que chez les personnes âgées de 65 ans et plus. Malgré l'introduction des vaccins conjugués contre le pneumocoque (VCP), la charge des sérotypes vaccinaux reste élevée dans les pays à faible revenu car il n'existe pas de politiques claires en matière de vaccination des adultes. Selon le rapport sur la charge mondiale de morbidité de 2019, environ 120 000 personnes âgées de 70 ans et plus sont décédées des suites d'infections des voies respiratoires inférieures (IVRI) en Afrique subsaharienne. Une réunion du conseil consultatif médical a eu lieu en avril 2022 pour discuter du fardeau des maladies pneumococciques chez les adultes, de l'état actuel des politiques et pratiques de vaccination des adultes, des besoins non satisfaits et des défis au Ghana. Cet article d'opinion d'experts présente l'épidémiologie pneumococcique et le fardeau de la maladie au Ghana, ainsi que les arguments en faveur de la vaccination pneumococcique des adultes. Il met également en lumière les obstacles potentiels à la vaccination des adultes et propose des recommandations pour surmonter ces obstacles et améliorer l'acceptation des vaccins au Ghana. MOTS-CLÉS: Maladie pneumococcique, Fardeau de la maladie, Vaccin conjugué contre le pneumocoque, Vaccination des adultes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Ghana, Défis de la vaccination, Immunisation des adultes, VCP-13, Pneumonie acquise en communauté.

An assessment on the knowledge and attitudes of university students concerning adult immunization and COVID-19 vaccine in Turkey.

There is ongoing concern about vaccine hesitancy amongst young adults in Turkey. In October 2021 just 53% of 18-25-year olds were fully vaccinated. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of university students concerning adult immunization, COVID-19 vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccine literacy to better understand why it is difficult to encourage young adults to be vaccinated. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 307 university students that included socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of adult immunization, attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination, and vaccine literacy. The data were collected using a socio-demographic characteristics form, a knowledge form for adult immunization, the attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine scale, and the COVID-19 vaccine literacy scale. While more than half of the students (52.8%) had a low level of knowledge about adult immunization, half percent of the students (50.5%) stated that they did not know anything about adult vaccination. Twenty-six and half percent of the students stated that they weren't vaccinated because they were afraid of the side effects of the vaccines for adults. The difference between the student's level of knowledge about adult immunization and their mean scores on the attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine scale was not statistically significant (p > 0.05); whereas, the difference between their level of knowledge about adult immunization and their mean scores of the COVID-19 vaccine literacy scale was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There were low levels of vaccine literacy amongst Turkish university students and more than half of the students reported that they did not know and twenty-six percent of students (26 %) of the students were fearful of vaccine side effects. Students outside of the faculty of health had a low level of knowledge about vaccines. Examining and improving vaccine literacy amongst university students could lead to improved compliance with vaccination programs for both COVID-19 and other adult vaccines that are important for community health and well-being.

Under-Vaccination in Adults: Qualitative Insights Into Perceived Barriers Reported by Vaccine Supporters, Undecided and Refuters.

Although vaccination is one of the most cost-effective ways of preventing disease, vaccine hesitancy has been included among the ten threats of global health. Addressing low adult vaccination rates requires an adequate understanding of people's views. We explored perceived barriers to immunization among under-vaccinated adults to identify potential differences among vaccine supporters, refuters, and those who are undecided. We conducted a multi-center, mixed-methods study at 23 primary care practices in Greece. Each day, we asked three new randomly-selected adult healthcare users who attended the practice over the course of 30 consecutive working days. We used thematic content analysis to analyze their written answers to open-ended questions that addressed reasons for not getting vaccinated. Out of 1571 participants, two-thirds reported they were under-vaccinated as adults, thus accounting for three out of five of the supporters and the vast majority of the undecided and refuters. "Concerns/fears," a "perception of low susceptibility to disease due to good health status," the "absence of healthcare professional's recommendation," and "previous negative experiences" were four themes common to all three groups. Additional barriers reported by supporters and the undecided included "knowledge gaps about the necessity of adult vaccination," "negligence," and lack of "accessibility." Among refuters, additional themes identified were "mistrust in pharmaceutical companies" and "disbelief in vaccine effectiveness." In conclusion, under-vaccination is common, not only among refuters or the undecided, but also among supporters of adult vaccination. We found similarities and differences in under-vaccinated adults' perceived barriers, depending on their individual perspectives. Physicians and public health services should take into consideration the impact of the wide range of attitudes and beliefs in their effort to address the underlying barriers to vaccination compliance as they attempt to increase vaccination coverage in adults.

Live attenuated herpes zoster vaccine for HIV-infected adults.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple guidelines exist for the use of live viral vaccines for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), varicella and yellow fever in people with HIV infections, but these guidelines do not make recommendations regarding live attenuated herpes zoster vaccine (LAHZV), which is approved for people over 50 years in the general population. LAHZV is made with the same virus used in varicella vaccine. The incidence of herpes zoster remains increased in people with HIV infection, even when on suppressive antiretroviral therapy, and a growing proportion of HIV-infected patients are over 50 years of age. The purpose of this article is to review the use of varicella vaccine and LAHZV in people with HIV infection and to make recommendations about the use of LAHZV in adults with HIV infection. METHODS: A PubMed search was undertaken using the terms 'herpes zoster AND HIV' and 'varicella AND HIV'. Reference lists were also reviewed for pertinent citations. RESULTS: Varicella vaccine is recommended in varicella-susceptible adults, as long as they have a CD4 count > 200 cells/µL, the same CD4 threshold used for MMR and yellow fever vaccines. No transmission of vaccine strain Varicella zoster virus has been documented in people with HIV infections with a CD4 count above this threshold. LAHZV was administered to 295 HIV-infected adults with a CD4 count > 200 cells/µL, and was safe and immunogenic with no cases of vaccine strain infection. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that LAHZV be administered to HIV-infected adults with a CD4 count above 200 cells/µL, the same CD4 threshold used for other live attenuated viral vaccines.

Knowledge, awareness and practices towards seasonal influenza and its vaccine: implications for future vaccination campaigns in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Influenza is an underestimated contributor to morbidity and mortality. Population knowledge regarding influenza and its vaccination has a key role in enhancing vaccination coverage. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the gaps of knowledge among Jordanian population towards influenza and its vaccine, and to identify the major determinants of accepting seasonal influenza vaccine in adults and children in Jordan. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 941 randomly selected adults in Amman, Jordan. A four-section questionnaire was used which included questions about the sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge about influenza and the factors that affect seasonal influenza vaccine acceptance and refusal. RESULTS: Only 47.3% of the participants were considered knowledgeable. About half of the participants (51.9%) correctly identified the main influenza preventative measures. Lack of knowledge about the important role of seasonal influenza vaccine in disease prevention was observed. Low vaccination rate (20% of adults) was reported. The most critical barrier against vaccination in adults and children was the concern about the safety and the efficacy of the vaccine, while the most important predictors for future vaccination in adults and children were physician recommendation and government role. In children, the inclusion of the vaccine within the national immunization program was an important determinant of vaccine acceptance. CONCLUSION: Formulating new strategies to improve the population's level of knowledge, assuring the population about the safety and the efficacy of the vaccine and the inclusion of the vaccine within the national immunization program are the essential factors to enhance vaccination coverage in Jordan.

Adult immunization schedule. The general practitioner's perspective and new tools for a better practice.

Vaccine-preventable disease significantly contributes to the morbidity and mortality of adults worldwide. The rates of vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal disease and tetanus in adults and in high-risk group of people are far from the optimal coverage as suggested by Minister of Health. General Practitioners (GPs) can contribute to increase immunization in adults and in elderly people because these age groups attend frequently the surgery of their family doctors for reasons related to their chronic diseases. The GPs, on their side, can proactively involve patients through informatics tools that supply lists of specific patients and electronic alerts in patient records.

Analysis of the Federal Section 317 Immunization Program and Routine Adult Immunization Activities, United States, 2022-2023.

OBJECTIVES: The federal Section 317 Immunization Program, administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides funding to support adult immunization efforts; however, current information on program implementation at the jurisdictional level is limited. We assessed the use of Section 317 and other funding sources to support routine adult immunization activities among the 64 immunization programs ("awardees"). METHODS: We conducted a survey and key informant interviews with awardees in October to December 2022 to collect quantitative and qualitative data on current adult vaccine purchase and program operation activities funded by Section 317 and other funding sources. We assessed total vaccine cost and data on vaccine purchase projections for each awardee with CDC's Cost and Affordability Tool for 2023. RESULTS: Immunization program managers or their designees from 62 of 64 awardees (97%) completed the survey; 12 awardees participated in key informant interviews. Of 62 awardees, 32 (52%) used a single funding source to support adult vaccine purchases, of which 29 (91%) used only Section 317 funds, 21 (34%) reported not planning to purchase ≥1 age-based recommended vaccine for adults in 2023, and 33 (53%) reported using Section 317 funds only to support adult immunization program operations. Key informant interviews showed varied operational activities among awardees, but 8 awardees stated the need for additional staff to expand adult immunization program services in health care provider education (n = 5), program administration (n = 5), and site visits (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: Additional efforts are needed to understand how to better support routine adult immunization activities implemented at the jurisdictional level.

National recommendations for adult pneumococcal vaccination in countries of the WHO regions of Americas, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, South East Asia, and Western Pacific.

BACKGROUND: Adults who are elderly or who have underlying health conditions are at particular risk of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, and pneumococcal vaccines are available. Nonetheless, only national recommendations from countries of North America and Europe have been previously reviewed in the literature. METHODS: Consequently, we aimed to collate national guidelines for adult pneumococcal immunization across the 161 countries within the World Health Organization (WHO) regions-the Americas (except Canada and the United States of America), Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, South East Asia, and Western Pacific-from country-level official websites and documents, from the WHO portal, and from direct contact with public health officials, pertinent governmental sources, or local vaccination experts. RESULTS: For 40.4 % (65/161) of these countries, adult pneumococcal vaccination information was available. Among these 65 with available information, 63.1 % (41/65) include adult pneumococcal vaccination in the national vaccination schedule: 58.5 % (24/41) recommend vaccination both for older adults and for risk groups, while 9.8 % (4/41) recommend it only for older adults, and 31.7 % (13/41) only for risk groups. Of note, among the 13 national risk based-only recommendations, 30.8 % (4/13) are age-dependent and strictly reserved for older adults. The regions where age-based adult pneumococcal vaccination recommendations seem to predominate are South East Asia, Western Pacific, and the Americas. The threshold for age-based pneumococcal vaccination recommendations varies between 50 and 70 years of age. The Americas has the highest proportion of countries with risk-based recommendations. Three-quarters of these countries include PCV and PPV23 in the recommendations, most often given in sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of countries of the five WHO regions analyzed have accessible information on adult pneumococcal vaccination, and only 25.5 % (41/161) of all countries reviewed recommend adult pneumococcal immunization within the national vaccination schedule. Policymakers should consider extending pneumococcal vaccination guidelines-adapted to national priorities for adult healthcare-as based on local age demographics and risk factor predominance.

Adult tetanus is not gone yet, but could be ready to leave: A case-series from central India.

Introduction: Adult tetanus is a neurotoxin mediated infectious disease, that continues to be seen despite availability of a highly efficacious vaccine. In India population-based burden estimates for adult tetanus are not available. Elimination of neonatal and maternal tetanus from India was achieved in 2015 with DPT (diphtheria, pertusis, and tetanus) vaccine during childhood and tetanus toxoid (TT) during antenatal care. Vaccine coverage in adults is uneven. While pregnant women receive the vaccine as part of ante-natal care, booster dose coverage in all other non-pregnant women and men is poor. Case report: We describe four cases of adult tetanus that presented to our tertiary care hospital in central India. Out of four cases, two were homemakers, one was a farmer, another was a student. Three of them were not aware regarding primary tetanus vaccination and none of the four received any booster dosages of tetanus vaccine. Conclusions: These cases highlight complexity of disease management and reinforce the need for adult booster immunization against tetanus.

Hepatitis B and influenza vaccination coverage in healthcare workers, the elderly, and patients with diabetes in Malaysia.

Adult immunization remains to be a neglected issue in developing countries including Malaysia. This nationwide study determined the vaccination coverage of hepatitis B and influenza among Malaysia's healthcare workers (HCWs), the elderly (aged 60 y and above) and patients with diabetes, who are the participants of The Malaysia Cohort Program. The participants were categorized based on their occupation, age and medical history. Self-reported questionnaire was used to assess the participant's hepatitis B and influenza vaccination status. A Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors associated with vaccination behavior. The hepatitis B vaccination coverage for healthcare workers, elderly, and patients with diabetes were 34.6%, 10.1% and 9.8%, respectively. The influenza vaccination coverage rates for healthcare workers, the elderly and patients with diabetes were 26.3%, 5.5% and 6.4%, respectively. The Chinese were more likely to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, while Malay was more likely to be vaccinated against influenza. Individuals with higher education and living in urban areas were more likely vaccinated than those with low education levels and who lived in rural areas. The low vaccination coverage for healthcare workers was alarming because hepatitis B and influenza were subsidized for the healthcare workers. The hepatitis B and influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare workers, elderly and patients with diabetes in Malaysia were low. Specific interventions such as educational and awareness programs should be conducted to increase the vaccination rate among adults, especially those at high risk.

Meningococcal B Immunisation in Adults and Potential Broader Immunisation Strategies: A Narrative Review.

Recombinant vaccines against invasive meningococcal disease due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) have shown substantial impact in reducing MenB disease in targeted populations. 4CMenB targets four key N. meningitidis protein antigens; human factor H binding protein (fHbp), Neisserial heparin binding antigen (NHBA), Neisseria adhesin A (NadA) and the porin A protein (PorA P1.4), with one or more of these expressed by most pathogenic MenB strains, while MenB-FHbp targets two distinct fHbp variants. While many countries recommend MenB immunisation in adults considered at high risk due to underlying medical conditions or immunosuppression, there are no recommendations for routine use in the general adult population. We reviewed the burden of MenB in adults, where, while incidence rates remain low (and far lower than in young children < 5 years of age at greatest risk), a substantial proportion of MenB cases (20% or more) is now observed in the adult population; evident in Europe, Australia, and in the United States. We also reviewed immunogenicity data in adults from clinical studies conducted during MenB vaccine development and subsequent post-licensure studies. A 2-dose schedule of 4CMenB generates hSBA titres ≥ 1:4 towards all four key vaccine target antigens in up to 98-100% of subjects. For MenB-FHbp, a ≥ fourfold rise in hSBA titres against the four primary representative test strains was observed in 70-95% of recipients following a 3-dose schedule. While this suggests potential benefits for MenB immunisation if used in adult populations, data are limited (especially for adults > 50 years) and key aspects relating to duration of protection remain unclear. Although a broader adult MenB immunisation policy could provide greater protection of the adult population, additional data are required to support policy decision-making.

Vaccines in adults with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease: What are the knowledge and attitudes of physicians?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practices about vaccination in adults with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD) among primary care physicians (PCPs), internal medicine specialists (IMSs), and rheumatologists and to emphasize the importance of vaccination. Patients and methods: Between March 2021 and April 2021, a total of 310 IMSs, PCPs, and rheumatologists (132 males, 178 females; mean age: 37.4±9.5 years; range, 24 to 64 years) were included. A web-based questionnaire was used in the study. Results: Of the physicians, 87.7% were aware of that patients with AIRD were among adults with vaccination indications, but 53.9% reported that they knew about recommended vaccines, and 53.2% recommended vaccines to their patients. The most common reasons for not recommending vaccination were reservations about the drugs used (22.3%) and lack of information (17.7%). Those with longer practice as physicians and older physicians had less knowledge about the vaccine than the other participants. While 59.7% of the participants thought that the vaccination plans of the patients should be made by the rheumatologist, the rate of PCPs who did not prefer to apply the planned vaccines in the first step was 50.7%. A total of 50% of the participants did not recommend the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in a primary healthcare institution to those receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusion: Considering that one of the major obstacles to adult vaccination is the physician's refusal to recommend it, our study highlights the missing points in the vaccination knowledge and approach of physicians. Providing advice on adult vaccination and immunization of risky groups to more physicians and periodic training to prevent loss of knowledge after graduation may contribute to an increase in the vaccination rate of adults with AIRD.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Adult Vaccination: A Review of the State of Evidence.

Background: Adult vaccination coverage remains low in the United States, particularly among racial and ethnic minority populations. Objective: To conduct a comprehensive literature review of research studies assessing racial and ethnic disparities in adult vaccination. Search Methods: We conducted a search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and reference lists of relevant articles. Selection Criteria: Research studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: (1) study based in the United States, (2) evaluated receipt of routine immunizations in adult populations, (3) used within-study comparison of race/ethnic groups, and (4) eligible for at least one author-defined PICO (patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome) question. Data Collection and Analysis: Preliminary abstract review was conducted by two authors. Following complete abstraction of articles using a standardized template, abstraction notes and determinations were reviewed by all authors; disagreements regarding article inclusion/exclusion were resolved by majority rule. The Social Ecological Model framework was used to complete a narrative review of observational studies to summarize factors associated with disparities; a systematic review was used to evaluate eligible intervention studies. Results: Ninety-five studies were included in the final analysis and summarized qualitatively within two main topic areas: (1) factors associated with documented racial-ethnic disparities in adult vaccination and (2) interventions aimed to reduce disparities or to improve vaccination coverage among racial-ethnic minority groups. Of the 12 included intervention studies, only 3 studies provided direct evidence and were of Level II, fair quality; the remaining 9 studies met the criteria for indirect evidence (Level I or II, fair or poor quality). Conclusions: A considerable amount of observational research evaluating factors associated with racial and ethnic disparities in adult vaccination is available. However, intervention studies aimed at reducing these disparities are limited, are of poor quality, and insufficiently address known reasons for low vaccination uptake among racial and ethnic minority adults.

How ready was the US vaccination infrastructure and network of immunization information systems for COVID-19 vaccination campaigns: Recommendations to strengthen the routine vaccination program and prepare for the next pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic vaccination campaigns globally have been unlike any effort in history. In the United States, the success of these efforts, in part, has hinged on the timely capture and reporting of an unprecedented amount of data from a significantly greater number of administering providers than for routine vaccinations. The pandemic response has highlighted the need to explore the status and value of vaccination data as the critical glue that connects all aspects of the upstream US vaccine development and downstream vaccination delivery system. In this review, we examine immunization information systems and the role that data and staffing play in pandemic responses. We offer three strategic recommendations-regarding funding, expanded provider enrollment, and data reporting-informed by a literature review, a survey and focus group from a convenience sample of 22 immunization jurisdictions, and the vision for enhanced data flow to improve future pandemic responses and routine vaccination.

Using Quality Measures to Drive Improvements in Immunization Rates: Findings from a Real-World Evaluation from 3 US Health Care Organizations.

Adult immunization rates are low and continue to fail to meet national targets. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic halted routine health care services for many, including vaccinations. This study explored whether the National Committee for Quality Assurance's Adult Immunization Status (AIS) measure, which had previously only been evaluated for reporting by health plans, could be leveraged by health care organizations (HCOs) as a tactic to improve immunization rates. Methods included a quantitative analysis of deidentified patient electronic health record data from 3 HCOs, supplemented by qualitative interviews to further understand opportunities and barriers. The analysis indicated that the data necessary for calculation of the AIS measure are available within HCOs and that measure performance could be enhanced with supplemental data from external sources, such as state immunization registries. Although HCOs rates were consistent with national estimates, this research further validated that adult immunization rates in the United States are low and highlighted the profound disparities that exist. For instance, the likelihood of completing all age-appropriate vaccinations was lower if patients were Black or African American, enrolled in Medicaid, or without health insurance. As a result of this study, the authors concluded that the AIS measure is feasible for use in medical groups and could potentially help drive quality improvements in immunization rates; however, there are considerations for implementation particularly if providers are being held accountable for measure performance.

Disparities in Coverage of Adult Immunization among Older Adults in India.

A lack of a universal adult immunization scheme in India poses a challenge to achieve universal health coverage. Healthcare disparity is one of the biggest challenges in low- and middle-income countries such as India. We aimed to estimate the disparities in coverage of various adult vaccines among older adults in India using nationally representative data. An observational analysis among 31,464 participants aged ≥60 years from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017-2018, was conducted. Vaccination coverage across wealth quintiles and selected non-communicable diseases were reported as frequencies and weighted proportions along with their 95% confidence intervals as a measure of uncertainty. The highest coverage was of the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine (2.75%) followed by typhoid (1.84%), hepatitis B (1.82%), influenza (1.59%), and pneumococcal (0.74%). The most affluent groups had a higher coverage of all vaccines. Participants having high cholesterol, psychiatric conditions, and cancer had the highest coverage of all vaccines. Overall, a very low coverage of all vaccines was observed. The coverage was influenced by social determinants of health, depicting a disparity in accessing immunization. Hence, at-risk groups such as the deprived and multimorbid patients need to be covered under the ambit of free immunization to achieve universal health coverage.

Adult Vaccination in the United Arab Emirates-A Physicians' Knowledge and Knowledge Sources Study.

Background: A lack of knowledge on adult vaccination has been documented among physicians. They play a critical role in promoting adult vaccines. This study aimed to review the status of adult vaccination in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and evaluate physicians' knowledge and knowledge sources regarding adult vaccines. Methods: Local, regional, and global adult vaccination guidelines were reviewed. A 40-item questionnaire was used to collect data from physicians from June to October 2020, using convenience and snowball sampling. Knowledge score was calculated, and predictors identified using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H-tests. Ordinary Least Squares regression was used for Multivariate Analysis. Results: A total of 500 responses were included. A quarter were internists, and another quarter were family physicians. Fifty-seven percent were medical interns and residents. Both perceived and actual knowledge of adult vaccination were low. Bivariate analysis showed knowledge depending on department, level of training, workplace, and perceived knowledge. All remained significant after multivariable regression except workplace. International and local guidelines were the most common knowledge sources. Forty-two percent were unable to access the local guidelines. Conclusions: Physicians' knowledge was poor and local guidelines were not clear or easily accessible. Participants were highly receptive to guidance and practice with adult vaccines.

Shared clinical decision-making on vaccines: out of sight, out of mind.

Clinical decision support systems, which provide automated reminders in electronic health systems, are designed to provide physicians and other health professionals support in clinical decision-making. New clinical guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on a new category of recommendations referred to as "shared clinical decision-making" have left providers struggling to interpret how to best implement recommendations for adult vaccines. The issue at hand is how to ensure that a conversation between the patient and provider occurs. While traditional clinical decision support systems have driven immunization for years, these systems support a binary default opt-in process. The goal for shared decision-making is the discussion rather than the vaccination. The recommended provider-patient conversations need to be supported with both provider guidance as well as tools to ensure vaccines are not omitted from the conversations, particularly as future vaccine candidates progress through the vaccine development pipeline.

Physician attitudes regarding the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Adult Immunization Schedule.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was created out of the need to formalize vaccine recommendations for the United States. Annually, ACIP delivers recommendations to the CDC director for guidance about United States vaccine use and publishes the Adult Immunization Schedule. Updated schedules feature changes to vaccine recommendations as well as changes to the schedule's usability for physicians. The objective of this study was to determine physicians' attitudes about the Adult Immunization Schedule. Surveys were administered to a sentinel physician network from October 2019 through January 2020. Physicians that responded were comfortable using the Adult Immunization Schedule, but reported confusion about some medical condition-based indications. Physicians reported a lack engagement with mobile applications, CDC Vaccine Schedules and Shots by STFM (the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine). Future work should focus on increasing clarity regarding the recommendations with medical condition-based indications and increasing knowledge of mobile applications for physicians.