Download Talk to your doctor about the risks of VPDs, like pneumococcal

[Pneumococcal Immunization E-mail Template to Healthcare Providers]
To: [Insert Provider Name]
From: [Insert Name]
Subject: Helping to Protect Your Eligible Adult Patients from Potentially Serious Diseases
Dear [Insert Provider Name]:
Pneumococcal pneumonia can lead to serious clinical consequences for your patients. In fact, it is
estimated that each year a quarter million Americans aged 50 and older are hospitalized with
pneumococcal pneumonia.1,2 As providers, you play an important role in helping to protect your
patients against potentially serious diseases,3 especially those aged 65 and older, who may be at
increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia4-6:


The mean length of stay in the hospital from pneumococcal pneumonia is 5.9 days in
adults 65+4
In 2014, immunization rates for pneumococcal pneumonia in adults 65+ fell far short of the
Healthy People 2020 goal, which is 90% for noninstitutionalized adults ≥65 years5,6
Immunization Rates for Adults 65+ Need Improvement5,6
Be sure to speak to your eligible older adult patients about vaccination against
pneumococcal pneumonia, as well as other potentially serious diseases
Sincerely,
[Insert Name]
[Insert Title]
[Insert Organization Name]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pneumococcal disease. In: Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. Epidemiology and
Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 13th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2015:278-296.
Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). April 2015. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/data/hcup/index.html. Accessed October 7, 2015.
Winston CA, Wortley PM, Lees KA. Factors associated with vaccination of Medicare beneficiaries in five U.S. communities: Results from the
racial and ethnic adult disparities in immunization initiative survey, 2003. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54(2):303-310.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. National statistics for mean length of stay data for pneumococcal pneumonia and for influenza,
2011. http://hcupnet.ahrq.gov. Accessed November 3, 2015.
FastStats: Pneumonia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/pneumonia.htm. Updated July 17,
2015. Accessed October 30, 2015.
2020 Topics and objectives: Immunizations and infectious diseases. HealthyPeople.gov website. http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives/topic/immunization-and-infectious-diseases/objectives. Accessed October 7, 2015.
PP-PNA-USA-0549-02
© 2016 Pfizer Inc.
All rights reserved.
February 2016
[VPD Internet/Newsletter Template to Healthcare Providers]
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs): How Can You Do More to Protect Your Patients?
VPDs can lead to a serious clinical and economic burden for healthcare providers, patients, and the
community at large. As a healthcare provider, you play a vital role in educating your adult patients on
vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and advocating the importance of receiving adult vaccinations
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).1
Your recommendation is a key factor in determining if your older adult patients receive appropriate
vaccinations,1 and knowing the potential implications of VPDs can help:
Potential Implications of Common VPDs2-5
Pneumococcal pneumonia can lead to serious implications for your older adult patients. In fact, it is
estimated that each year a quarter million Americans aged 50 and older are hospitalized with
pneumococcal pneumonia.5,6
There are certain steps you can take to help protect your older adult patients against serious diseases,
like pneumococcal pneumonia:




Assess your older adult patients at every clinical opportunity to determine if they are
eligible for vaccinations
Discuss risks for disease and vaccinations available to help protect against VPDs
Offer and administer adult vaccinations to your eligible patients according to CDC
Recommendations7
Be sure to speak to your older adult patients about
the risk for VPDs and the importance of vaccination
References
1.
Winston CA, Wortley PM, Lees KA. Factors associated with vaccination of Medicare beneficiaries in five U.S. communities: Results from the
racial and ethnic adult disparities in immunization initiative survey, 2003. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54(2):303-310.
2.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. What vaccines do I need? http://www.adultvaccination.org/whatvaccines. Accessed
October 7, 2015.
3.
2013 Provisional pertussis surveillance report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
https://host20.agsdc.net/AprimoPortal/FileStore.ashx/rendition/157313/_/_/b3cbf3a8e6f62370eef3ac63af96c77ca7816842c59220374a4c031f03f
612b1b8acf3104f1a77d455df75bb8c01d1454f63fed9d97d8e4bc93a97a98dae26a6/CDC%202013%20Provisional%20Pertussis%20Surveillance
%20Report.pdf. Accessed November 1, 2015.
4.
Wyrwich KW, Yu H, Sato R, Powers JH. Observational longitudinal study of symptom burden and time for recovery from community-acquired
pneumonia reported by older adults surveyed nationwide using the CAP Burden of Illness Questionnaire. Patient Relat Outcome Meas.
2015;6:215-223.
5.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pneumococcal disease. In: Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. Epidemiology and
Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 13th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2015:278-296.
6.
Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). April 2015. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/data/hcup/index.html. Accessed October 7, 2015.
7.
Recommended adult immunization schedule—United States—2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-schedule.pdf. Accessed October 7, 2015.
PP-PNA-USA-0549-03
© 2016 Pfizer Inc.
All rights reserved.
February 2016
[Pneumococcal Immunization E-mail Template to Patients]
To: [Insert Patient Name]
From: [Insert Name]
Subject: Helping to Protect Yourself From VPDs
Dear [Insert Patient Name]:
Many people often think that only children need vaccinations to help protect them against diseases,
like the flu, pneumococcal pneumonia, tetanus, and others. However, each year thousands of adults
suffer illnesses, hospitalizations, and even death from diseases that may have been preventable with
adult vaccinations.1
Possible Complications From Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs) in Adults2-4
In particular, many people dismiss pneumonia as an illness that only the elderly or sick people get in the
hospital. That’s not always true. Pneumococcal pneumonia can occur in otherwise healthy people
outside of hospital or healthcare settings. And even people as young as 50 may be at increased risk.5
Some symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia include4:




Fever and chills
Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
Chest pain
General weakness/tiredness
Getting vaccinated may help protect against pneumococcal pneumonia or other potentially serious
diseases.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of VPDs, like pneumococcal pneumonia,
and to see if certain adult vaccinations may be right for you
Sincerely,
[Insert Name]
[Insert Title]
[Insert Provider Name]
References
1. Vaccine information for adults: Why vaccines are important for you. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/reasons-to-vaccinate.html. Updated September 18, 2014. Accessed November 3, 2015.
2. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. What vaccines do I need? http://www.adultvaccination.org/what-vaccines. Accessed November
3, 2015.
3. Wyrwich KW, Yu H, Sato R, Powers JH. Observational longitudinal study of symptom burden and time for recovery from communityacquired pneumonia reported by older adults surveyed nationwide using the CAP Burden of Illness Questionnaire. Patient Relat Outcome
Meas. 2015;6:215-223.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pneumococcal disease. In: Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. Epidemiology and
Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 13th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2015:278-296.
5. Jain S, Self WH, Wunderink RG, et al; CDC EPIC Study Team. Community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization among U.S.
adults. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(5):415-427.
PP-PNA-USA-0549-04
© 2016 Pfizer Inc.
All rights reserved.
February 2016
[VPD Internet/Newsletter Template to Patients]
There are things you can do, like exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep, to help protect
yourself against potentially serious diseases. Another step you can take to help protect against potential
sickness from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) is to get vaccinated!
What You Should Know About Some Common VPDs Affecting Adults1-3
Pneumococcal (noo-muh-KOK-uhl) pneumonia, a serious infection of the lungs, may be less familiar to
you than some of the other diseases above; however, it can result in serious complications to those
affected. In fact, it is estimated that each year a quarter million Americans aged 50 and older are
hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia.4,5
Did You Know?

The symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia can come on quickly and may include4:
— Fever and chills
— Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
— Chest pain/coughing
— General weakness/tiredness
References
1.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. What vaccines do I need? http://www.adultvaccination.org/what-vaccines. Accessed October 30, 2015.
2.
Jain S, Self WH, Wunderink RG, et al; CDC EPIC Study Team. Community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization among U.S. adults. N Engl J
Med. 2015;373(5):415-427.
3.
Shingles vaccination: What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpdvac/shingles/vacc-need-know.htm. Updated November 21, 2014. Accessed November 3, 2015.
4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pneumococcal disease. In: Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention
of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 13th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2015:278-296.
5.
Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). April 2015. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/data/hcup/index.html. Accessed October 7, 2015.
PP-PNA-USA-0549-05
© 2016 Pfizer Inc.
Letter supported by Pfizer Inc.
February 2016