Women's healthcare providers are encouraged to incorporate immunizations into their clients' care. Because women often rely on their healthcare provider for primary and preventive care, that provider may dramatically improve clients' quality of life by decreasing the risk of
vaccine-preventable diseases. Women often assume responsibility for the entire family's health, and educating women can prevent disease in the household. Women's healthcare providers should offer and promote these
vaccines: hepatitis B,
varicella,
measles/
mumps/
rubella, and combined
tetanus/
diphtheria toxoids for adolescent and young adult women, inactivated
influenza vaccine during pregnancy, and pneumococcal,
influenza, and
tetanus/
diphtheria vaccines for the adult or elderly woman. Education should include the importance of
vaccines and the rationale for their necessity during each stage of life. Several strategies for implementing and supporting an immunization program have been shown to improve adult immunization rates. These include employing such protocols as
standing orders, screening for adult immunizations at each office encounter, and using previously developed immunization documentation forms. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations,
vaccine information statements (VIS), and storage and handling guidelines are readily available at low or no cost through CDC and professional organizations or immunization interest group websites. The current adult
vaccine schedule assists providers to determine the need for
vaccines by displaying graphically both age and medical risk factors.