title: Vaccination in older adults: development of an educational tool, Vaxisenior, in France.
abstract: The benefits of vaccination in older adults are well documented yet there is poor uptake of such preventive measures, and one of the main reasons in France is a lack of recommendation and support from healthcare professionals. To address this issue a multidisciplinary group of experts has developed an educational tool, Vaxisenior, to assist in the training of physicians/healthcare workers who can act as advocates for immunization programs. The tool comprises of eight sections (general introduction; immunosenescence; diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis; influenza; pneumococcus; pertussis; herpes zoster; and vaccines for travelers). In addition, it includes national immunization schedules and recommendations, practical information regarding opportunities to expand vaccine coverage that is convenient to the patient and a questions and answers section covering topics relating to particular usage and responsibilities. Implementation of vaccination policies for older adults is a major issue and will require extensive promotional campaigns, as well as active support from healthcare and public health professionals to improve overall vaccine coverage.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gériatrie, Hôpital Charles Foix and Université UPMC-Paris 6, Ivry-sur-Seine, France. j.belmin@cfx.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belmin
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourée
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guiso
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jeandel
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trivalle
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veyssier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*