United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Program Evaluation and Methodology Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-06-08 monographic deposited born digital 72 p. GA 1.13:PEMD-95-14 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14 P0b002ee18037f0c4 f:pe95014 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14 PEMD-95-14 Immunization services Immunization programs Demographic data Health statistics Infectious diseases Elderly persons Appropriated funds Health surveys National Health Interview Survey National Influenza Immunization Program Medicare Program Chapter Report PEMD Pneumonia and influenza are the leading causes of vaccine- preventable death. The elderly suffer the most from these diseases and the costs to the federal government are substantial. Annual Medicare hospital reimbursement can be as high as $1 billion for the treatment of influenza alone. Reported use of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines among the elderly has more than doubled during the past decade, but immunization rates for both diseases remain low, and mortality is significant. Despite the low immunization rates, the Centers for Disease Control spends very little promoting pneumococcal and influenza vaccination. GAO believes that beefing up promotion efforts would boost immunization rates and save lives. GAO concludes that efforts to improve health care providers' compliance with adult immunization guidelines are more promising than are attempts to influence consumers' knowledge and attitudes. Doctors have a strong impact on patients' vaccination decisions, but they often fail to recommend vaccination for patients for whom it is indicated. Computer-based reminder systems, checklists appended to medical records, practice-based tracking systems, and the issuance of standing orders for vaccination help to remedy this problem. The broad-based implementation of a hospital policy to vaccinate eligible high-risk patients before discharge shows much promise to reduce vaccine-preventable mortality among adults. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14/html/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14/pdf/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14.pdf GAO/PEMD-95-14 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-14 Chapter Report GAO/PEMD-95-14; Immunization: HHS Could Do More to Increase Vaccination Among Older Adults; Immunization services Immunization programs Demographic data Health statistics Infectious diseases Elderly persons Appropriated funds Health surveys National Health Interview Survey National Influenza Immunization Program Medicare Program Public Law 99-660 Public Law 100-203