New Maternal Immunization Resources Guide Clinic Conversations
AAFP Fact Sheets Support National Immunization Awareness Month
August 1, 2023, News Staff — As part of the AAFP’s observance of National Immunization Awareness Month, the Academy has created a pair of handouts — one for family physicians, the other for patients — to guide discussions about using vaccines before, during and after pregnancy. Both resources were developed with a grant funded through the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and HHS, and are available in the “Disease- and Population-Specific Immunizations” section of the AAFP’s Immunizations and Vaccines webpage
The family physician fact sheet briefly reviews the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices vaccine recommendations for patients who are pregnant, and includes links to the CDC’s immunization schedules for children, adolescents and adults for those who want additional information. The fact sheet also outlines the family physician’s role in educating people on the importance of vaccines, and provides several tips to implement in practice. In addition, the fact sheet features a step-by-step diagram on how to effectively communicate vaccine information to patients, and a short guidance section on how to overcome vaccine-related myths and misinformation.
The patient-facing fact sheet also touches on vaccine recommendations for those who are pregnant, with an emphasis on integral role vaccines have in prenatal care, as well as in protecting pregnant patients and babies from infectious diseases such as pertussis and influenza. It also advises that friends and family members should be up to date on several vaccines before coming into contact with a newborn baby.
Both fact sheets also link to resources from the AAFP, the CDC and ACOG.
Look for additional information on resources for National Immunization Awareness Month through AAFP News and the Academy’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts throughout August.