Nurses Role in Immunization Safety and Awareness

Authored by Editor on Aug 19, 2015

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is

celebrated every year throughout the month of August. NIAM
events are an opportunity to highlight the positive effects of
immunization and encourage people to protect themselves
against infectious diseases by staying current with their
immunizations. As immunization awareness takes center
stage throughout the month and parents are preparing their
children for a return to school, let’s take a look at the critical
role that Nurses play in the process.

Communication. Recent surveys conclude that more than

74% of parents trust the immunization advice given to them
by pediatric health care professionals. Being on the front line
of communication and care for the patient, nurses play a key
role in providing that advice and helping guide parental
decisions about their child’s vaccinations. It is important for
nursing professionals to keep themselves well-informed about
current immunization news, safety issues, and recent data
supporting the benefits of maintaining vaccination schedules.

Inevitably, Nurses are faced with questions from concerned

parents about the efficacy and safety of
immunizations. When handling these situations, it is critical to
have first-hand knowledge from fact-based sources. One
resource that will help in this regard is the reports found
through the Institute of Medicine’s Safety Review
Reports. This is not to say that your response should be a
litany of facts and data. The type of question you receive
should determine the level of detail necessary in your
response. Another valuable resource for vaccine safety
information and having quality, informative conversations with
parents can be found through a collaborative effort from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), called Provider
Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents.

Safety. Another key role for nursing professionals regarding

immunizations is that of safe handling and
administration. Proper storage procedures play a key role in
maintaining the efficacy of vaccines. Adherence to storage
temperatures and expiration dates must be followed. It is also
important for nurses to stay apprised of information regarding
the administration of vaccines. To avoid any potential
negative reaction to a vaccine, attention must be paid to the
need for administration via an intramuscular route versus a
subcutaneous route, etc.

Another precaution that is critical to the immunization process

is appropriate screening for contraindications, such as a
history of egg allergy and the flu vaccine. Stay informed via
the CDC Guide to Contraindications to Vaccinations.

Follow-Up. Any nurse responsible for the administration of

vaccines should be well-versed in the recognition of and
management of anaphylaxis. In today’s hectic clinical
environment, it may be tempting to allow efficiency and
volume to impact recommended vaccination
administration. This level of efficiency can pose problems for
the patient receiving the vaccination. The CDC advises that
the patient should be observed for at least 15 minutes after
vaccination.

Throughout the month of August, make it a point to review

your facilities Vaccination Administration protocols and
ensure that everything is up to date and accurate. Take
advantage of the variety of communication tools that are
available to help promote Immunization Awareness through
the CDC and NIAM. From Infants and Children through
Adulthood, vaccinations are a key component of eliminating
the risk of infectious diseases. Take an opportunity this
August to do your part in the awareness effort.