IDSA works independently and through coalitions with like-minded organizations to monitor and favorably impact immunization policy and programs as well as to support continued investments in vaccine research and development which is essential to bring new and improved vaccines to market. U.S. policymakers must be vigilant in working to improve and ensure the availability of these critical public health tools.
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.
Seasonal Influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality annually, particularly in high-risk groups such as the elderly, young children, immunosuppressed persons, and persons with chronic illnesses. Pandemic influenza has the potential to kill millions, destabilize national economies and threaten national security. Health care-associated transmission of influenza can contribute to this burden and is a threat to patients’ safety. Vaccination of health care personnel (HCP) is a key measure in the prevention of health care-associated influenza, and IDSA supports the use of mandatory HCP vaccination policies to jointly protect patients and HCP.