Plan early, plug often: Educating patients about the flu
It’s been another terrible week for the flu nationwide, but it's not too late to encourage flu shots for those who are still not immunized. Reports of a recent increase of influenza A subtype H1N1 and influenza B activity still make flu shots for the remainder of this flu season a safe choice, particularly for those at a high risk for complications from the flu. According to the CDC, 52.3 percent of adults aged 50–64 and 28.5 percent of adults aged 65-plus do not get vaccinated for the flu. In years like this one, where a somewhat lower vaccine strain efficacy is publicized extensively, the pharmacist’s counselling role becomes even more challenging than usual.
As you plan your flu order for the year, it makes sense to think about how you will educate and encourage patients to become vaccinated. When you do, consider the following: