The ACP Immunization Advisor app provides mobile access to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) current adult immunization schedule and adult vaccine indications and information.

Source: American College of Physicians in collaboration with Cientis Technologies and Hot Tomali Communications

Platforms available: iOS only

Pertinence to primary care practice: This app allows clinicians to customize searches for recommended vaccines by patient age (19 years or older), medical conditions, and special circumstances (e.g., work setting, travel plans, living arrangements). It provides links to other useful online immunization resource collections, including the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Clinicians can also browse a library of pages on individual vaccines that contain expandable menus of information on indications, contraindications, administration, side effects, and coding.

Authoritativeness/accuracy/currency of information: The app content is based on the CDC's 2013 adult immunization schedule and the American College of Physicians' Guide to Adult Immunization. It was initially released in 2012 and subsequently updated to reflect current vaccine recommendations. It is not clear whether the app is reviewed by a content expert.

Cost: Free to all users

Ease of use: The main menu provides options to navigate to recommended vaccines by age and condition, browse all vaccines, read news and updates from the American College of Physicians, and link to ACIP immunization resources. One drawback is that the app does not actually display the color-coded 2013 immunization schedule, but instead links users to a PDF file from the ACIP that is too small to read on an iPhone. Also, the “Find Vaccines by Age & Condition” tool does not appear to recognize variations of the same vaccine. For example, a 65-year-old adult is recommended high-dose and regular-dose influenza vaccine as well as Td and TdaP.

Sponsors: The app is funded by unrestricted educational grants from Sanofi Pasteur, Merck Vaccines, and Pfizer.

Rating:

Despite some minor limitations, this app provides essential and up-to-date information for physicians who provide preventive care to adults.