Strengthening Adult and Adolescent Immunization Coverage
While the United States has made significant progress toward eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases among children, similar successes have not yet occurred for adults and adolescents. Unacceptably low immunization rates exist among many adults and adolescents in the U.S. To combat this failure, IDSA developed a set of policy principles and recommendations to strengthen adult and adolescent immunizations, and we are working with federal and state partners to move these ideas forward.
Strengthening US Immunizations Programs and Vaccine Research and Development
IDSA is working to ensure that immunization programs are established, maintained and funded, and that research and development of new and improved vaccines continues. Immunization is one of the most effective ways to protect against infectious diseases. Vaccines have saved millions of lives worldwide and millions of dollars in unnecessary health care costs. Unfortunately, each year thousands of people still die of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Mandatory Immunization of Health Care Personnel Against Influenza and Other Infectious Diseases
IDSA supports universal immunization of health care workers (HCWs) against seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza by health care institutions (inpatient and outpatient) through mandatory vaccination programs as these programs are likely to be the most effective means to protect patients against the transmission of seasonal and H1N1 influenza by HCWs.