Fighting the Flu Together – Increasing Flu Vaccination Coverage Amongst Health Center Patients
Experts warn of a potential “Twindemic” as both the seasonal influenza (flu) and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) viruses circulate this fall and winter. Last year’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies (shelter-in-place, masking, social distancing, school closures) appeared to decrease flu activity, but as many pandemic restrictions have lifted, flu activity may again increase this season. Access and availability of influenza vaccine resources, along with planning for and the administration of flu immunization, is critical to avoid the circulation of flu with other respiratory viruses, including the COVID-19 virus
CPCA has developed training and technical assistance opportunities for health centers to increase flu vaccine coverage among their patients and other high-risk groups within their communities. These training and technical assistance opportunities are aimed at providing community health centers practical strategies for increasing immunization rates amongst adult patients. Our offerings include a mini-series of webcast recordings spotlighting health centers that have successfully leveraged different strategies to increase vaccination coverage amongst various high-risk groups including older patients, persons experiencing homelessness, and seasonal migrant workers. The webcasts can be accessed on CPCA’s Recorded Webcasts GoTo Stage.
In addition to training and technical assistance resources, CPCA is working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to ensure that health centers have access to federal supply of late-season flu vaccines for use among uninsured adults during the 2021-2022 flu season. CPCA will share more information on this resource as it becomes available.
Health centers should remember that COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered (same day administration) with flu and other vaccines. CDPH has released a one-page guidance on COVID-19 vaccine Coadministration with Other Vaccines. Health centers can also consult the CDC’s guidance on Coadministration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines, which also includes best practices for multiple injections.
Additionally, health centers should be on the lookout for CPCA materials, including webinars, webcasts, guidance resources, and toolkits. We will disseminate materials through CPCA’s social media, Connected Communities platform and our Statewide Quality Improvement Committee and Primary Care Peer Networks.