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Digital Immunization Tracking in Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2023
Abstract
A disproportionate share of the health impacts of COVID-19 has been borne by older adults, particularly those in long-term care facilities (LTCs). Vaccination has been critical to efforts to combat this issue, but as we begin to emerge from this pandemic, questions remain about how to protect the health of residents of LTC and assisted living facilities proactively in order to prevent such a disaster from occurring again. Vaccination, not just against COVID-19, but also against other vaccine-preventable illness, will be a key component of this effort. However, there are currently substantial gaps in the uptake of vaccines recommended for older adults. Technology offers an opportunity to assist in filling these vaccination gaps. Our experiences in Fredericton, New Brunswick suggest that a digital immunization solution would facilitate better uptake of adult vaccines for older adults in assisted and independent living facilities and would help policy and decision makers to identify coverage gaps and develop interventions to protect these individuals.
Résumé
Les aînés, en particulier ceux qui vivent dans des établissements de soins de longue durée, ont subi une part disproportionnée des répercussions de la COVID-19. La vaccination a été essentielle dans les efforts pour surmonter ce problème, mais alors que nous commençons à émerger de cette pandémie, des questions demeurent. Comment protéger de manière proactive la santé des personnes qui vivent dans des établissements de soins de longue durée et des résidences avec services afin de prévenir la répétition d’un tel désastre? La vaccination, non seulement contre la COVID-19, mais aussi contre d’autres maladies évitables avec des vaccins, sera un élément clé de cet effort. Or, on constate actuellement d’importantes lacunes dans l’adoption des vaccins recommandés pour les personnes âgées. La technologie pourrait contribuer à combler ces lacunes. Nos expériences à Fredericton, au Nouveau-Brunswick, indiquent qu’une solution de vaccination numérique faciliterait une meilleure adoption des vaccins pour les personnes âgées vivant dans des résidences avec services ou des centres de vie autonome. Cette solution aiderait aussi les décideurs politiques à cerner les écarts de vaccination et à concevoir des interventions visant à protéger cette population.
Keywords
- Type
- Policy and Practice Note/Note de politique et practique
- Information
- Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 42 , Issue 3 , September 2023 , pp. 516 - 519
- Copyright
- © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2023
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