Settings Where High-Risk Persons and Their Contacts May Be Targeted For Flu Vaccination

The expansion of the recommendations to all persons 6 months and older highlights the importance of making influenza vaccine readily accessible in a variety of settings. Many of the persons at highest risk for complications will likely continue to be vaccinated in health-care settings. However, vaccination in health-care settings must increasingly be complemented by vaccination in nonmedical settings that increase convenience and access. During the 2009-2010 H1N1 Vaccination Program, substantial efforts were made at the state and local level to direct vaccine to locations such as schools, pharmacies, workplaces, and health departments.

Persons for whom influenza vaccine is recommended, including health-care workers and household members of high-risk persons, can be identified and vaccinated in many different settings that provide care to persons in high-risk groups:

• Outpatient facilities providing ongoing care
• Outpatient facilities providing episodic or acute care
• Acute-care hospitals
• Nursing homes and other residential long-term care facilities
• Visiting nurses and others providing home care to persons at high risk
• Other settings outside of medical care settings such as health departments, pharmacies, workplaces, schools, shopping areas, retirement communities, and recreation centers have been used to offer influenza vaccine