Florida SHOTS™: Keeping SHOTS in Check

Unsure what to do with a patient who missed an immunization? Should you administer it at the next visit? Can it be combined with other scheduled vaccinations? Florida SHOTS algorithms use the latest approved immunization schedule and take all of these questions into account when showing you shots for which your patients are due or overdue.

Make sure to record all vaccinations in Florida SHOTS for accurate, up-to-date patient records and help with keeping your patients on schedule.

The 2012 Florida SHOTS immunization schedule poster is ready and available for download. The poster is two-sided with the information presented in both English and Spanish. Download and print the immunization schedule poster to display throughout your office.

Keep your patients informed about recommended immunizations.

As of May 28, 2011, six confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Florida, the highest number of reported cases since 1997. Five cases were in children aged 12 months to 16 years and all were unvaccinated. Of the five cases in children, four had a religions exemption to vaccination and one did not receive vaccination prior to travel. The importation status of the Florida cases is as follows: one case in a foreign visitor who acquired the disease in his country prior to travel, three cases in Florida residents who traveled to a country with a high incidence of measles, one case who traveled outside of Florida but within the U.S., and one case with an unknown exposure source.

Though no specific treatment for measles is available, supportive therapy is focused on treating complications caused by the measles virus such as dehydration and pneumonia. Prevention through vaccination is the most proven strategy to decrease the burden of measles disease.

Persons who are not protected against the measles virus are encouraged to receive vaccination prior to international travel. The CDC advises at least one dose of measles-containing vaccine for infants 6 months through 11 months of age prior to international travel. Children 12 months of age or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Adults should review their vaccination records to ensure they are up-to-date, and if indicated, adults born in or after 1957 should receive two doses of MMR vaccine.

More information regarding international travel can be found on the CDC’s website.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a blood-borne and sexually transmitted virus. Rates of new infection and acute disease are highest among adults, but chronic infection is more likely to occur in persons infected as infants or young children.

Hepatitis B vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent HBV infection and its consequences. A strategy of primary concern is universal vaccination of infants to prevent early childhood HBV infection and to eventually protect adolescents and adults from infection.

The ACIP, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend that the hepatitis B vaccine be administered to all infants at birth prior to hospital discharge. The ACIP also recommends that delivery hospitals implement standing orders for administration of hepatitis B vaccine as part of routine medical care of all medically stable infants weighing 2,000 grams or more, regardless of their mothers’ HBsAg status, and immunizing all infants prior to hospital discharge.

To aide healthcare professionals in implementation of standing orders, a resource tool created by the Immunization Action Coalition is available. This tool includes guidelines to help hospitals establish policies and standing orders in their labor and delivery and newborn units.