Vaccinations in pneumonia (VIP): pneumococcal and influenza vaccination patterns among patients hospitalized for pneumonia.
BACKGROUND
Although the CDC ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommends that appropriate inpatients receive pneumococcal and influenza vaccines, adult vaccination rates for these remain low. We therefore examined perihospitalization vaccination rates for high-risk pneumonia inpatients.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of all pneumonia patients admitted to one community hospital from 6/1/95 to 5/31/96. Vaccination history, co-morbidity, mortality, and prior and subsequent pneumonia admissions were recorded. Primary care providers and nursing homes were contacted to complete and verify vaccine histories.


RESULTS
For 173 total admissions (160 subjects), vaccine histories were documented in the hospital chart in less than 0.5% of patients. While 97% had indications for both vaccines at the time of admission, no vaccines were given in the hospital and less than 5% had documented vaccinations during the subsequent 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite clear indications, few patients had documented vaccination at any time. These data lend urgency to the recommendation that pneumococcal and influenza vaccines should be routinely administered to pneumonia inpatients at discharge. Furthermore, they illustrate the need for an improved method for tracking individual adult vaccinations.
Greci
Laura S
LS
Department of Preventive Medicine, Griffin Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine, Derby, CT 06418, USA. laura.greci@aya.yale.edu
Katz
David L
DL
Jekel
James
J
D000368:Aged; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines