The CDC and Healthy People 2020 continue to educate on the importance, the improved ease of access and insurance coverage for screenings and vaccinations. It is the responsibility of nurses to engage our aging adults in self-advocating for services that benefit the individual and community health. How can you, as a registered nurse, impact older adults to encourage routine vaccination? What impact does this have on the community as a whole?
As a registered nurse, I can impact older adults to encourage routine vaccination in the following ways:
Impact on the community as a whole
Routine vaccination of older adults has a number of benefits for the community as a whole. First, it helps to protect older adults from vaccine-preventable diseases. This is important because older adults are at increased risk for serious complications from these diseases.
Second, routine vaccination of older adults helps to protect other people in the community from vaccine-preventable diseases. This is because older adults are often in close contact with other people, such as grandchildren, caregivers, and healthcare workers.
Third, routine vaccination of older adults helps to reduce the economic burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. This is because vaccine-preventable diseases can lead to hospitalization, medical bills, and lost productivity.
Specific examples of how I can impact older adults to encourage routine vaccination:
By taking these steps, I can help to ensure that older adults are up-to-date on all recommended vaccines and protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. This will have a positive impact on the community as a whole by reducing the spread of disease and protecting everyone from serious illness.