The Immunization Resource Center: Advancing Protection Against Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

One of the most important health initiatives in our lifetimes is to improve vaccination rates for vaccine-preventable disease.  In the United States, immunization is high in children but decreases substantially into adulthood. Disparities in vaccinations rates also vary widely depending on geography, race or ethnicity, age, and comorbid conditions.  Patients who are unvaccinated for vaccine-preventable diseases place an extraordinarily high burden on the US healthcare system, with costs exceeding $7 billion every year. Healthcare professionals along the entire multidisciplinary team need to be armed with strategies to maximize vaccination opportunities.