Paid Sponsorship by Atlantic Health Partners
The unpredictability of the yearly flu season is a reminder for practices that it’s never too early to begin preparation for the next flu season.
As a part of this preparation, practices, workplace clinics, and other healthcare facilities must continuously reevaluate their influenza vaccine supply and plan in advance to ensure they are properly stocked. Pre-booking vaccines is the best way practices can proactively prepare for the upcoming flu season. Below, we explore how organizations—and their patients—can benefit from pre-booking flu vaccines.
Tailored Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that flu vaccine pre-booking occur from January to March. Before pre-booking vaccines, physicians and other healthcare professionals should review their patient populations and consider their patients’ unique needs. For the 2023-24 season, the CDC recommends a number of influenza vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Pasteur, Seqirus, and Astrazeneca. The CDC outlines key considerations for physicians and other healthcare professionals to evaluate their practice needs, including the number of children, seniors, people with egg allergies, and patient population growth. Physicians and other healthcare professionals should also consider the needs of their staff, as studies show they are more likely to be vaccinated against the flu if their employer provides access to on-site or free flu vaccinations.
Primary care physicians often serve as the quarterback of care, working with other professionals on behalf of their patients. Having deep knowledge of their patient’s care journeys, primary care physicians can help patients determine which flu vaccine is the best option and should coordinate with other professionals to ensure the patient is receiving the flu protection they need.
Improved Supply
Because a new flu vaccine is developed each year, manufacturers produce vaccines in limited amounts. Pre-booking your flu vaccine supply helps practices avoid vaccine supply limitations that may occur from time to time. Additionally, the CDC recommends that practices offer the flu vaccine by the end of October to ensure that patients can develop immunity, which takes about two weeks, before the flu season picks up.
When physicians and other healthcare professionals are confident that they can supply the appropriate flu vaccine option for every patient, they can confidently recommend the flu vaccine, and at a time that’s convenient for the patient, such as during a well-visit. A strong physician recommendation remains one of the most impactful actions you can take to improve adult vaccination uptake.
Atlantic Health Partners can help our members save on Influenza and all other vaccines, as well as being a resource to help physicians navigate the increasing array of vaccines coming into the marketplace. Contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 800.741.2044.
