Improving Pneumococcal Vaccine Education in Adults 50 and Older in Primary Care

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States (US) in 2023, with over 44,000 deaths. Mortality rates are lower for those under 45, while individuals 65 years and older face a higher risk. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all adults 50 years and older receive at least one dose of the pneumococcal vaccine. Despite its availability, vaccination rates are low due to a lack of awareness and knowledge, as cited in the literature. An educational tool aimed at eligible populations could enhance awareness, knowledge, and intent to vaccinate.Purpose: To develop and implement an educational handout aiming to enhance patients' knowledge and awareness of the vaccine, ultimately leading to improved vaccination rates and patient outcomes for patients 50 years and older at a Southwest FQHC clinic. Methods: A pneumococcal vaccine educational handout was developed and evaluated through post-education quantitative surveys to measure patient knowledge and intent to ensure vaccination status is current. The educational handout was customized to a 5th grade reading level and included pneumonia and vaccine information. All patients 50 years and older were invited to participate. Participant satisfaction with the educational handout was assessed via a quantitative survey, and participants were encouraged to provide additional feedback at the end of the survey. Results: Of the 22 eligible participants invited to participate, 20 completed the project surveys (91% participation). Post-intervention findings demonstrated that 95% of participants reported increased knowledge of vaccine eligibility, 90% gained awareness of pneumonia-related risk factors, and 95% recognized vaccine side effects as minor. Additionally, 50% expressed intention to discuss vaccination with their provider, while 90–95% rated the handout highly for readability and adequacy of information. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a literacy-appropriate educational handout is an effective and sustainable strategy for improving pneumococcal vaccine knowledge and awareness among adults aged 50 years and older. While knowledge and satisfaction outcomes were strong, the intention to vaccinate was moderate, highlighting the need to pair patient education with provider engagement strategies, such as standing orders and reminders, and on-site pharmacists to optimize vaccine uptake.