ASCO is working with eight oncology health systems to develop, test, and measure strategies to improve immunization rates as part of an initiative with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) to improve vaccination rates among high-risk adults. Through this project, known as Specialty Societies Advancing Adult Immunization (SSAAI), ASCO will work with CMSS and the health systems over the next 4 years to incorporate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Standards for Adult Immunization Practice into clinical care and drive adult immunization through outreach, education, and quality improvement efforts.
The eight oncology health systems participating are:
- CARTI Cancer Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Roseville, California
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Norton Cancer Institute, Louisville, Kentucky
- Parkland Hospital, Dallas, Texas
- Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, Washington
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer–Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The initiative will provide funding to participants to support increased COVID-19, influenza, and routine vaccinations in high-risk adults with chronic medical conditions, including cancer.
“What we learn from this project will be used to better educate clinicians and patients on the importance of vaccination,” said Brian Bourbeau, ASCO’s Division Director, Practice Health.
Participants from the health systems attended the first of three learning sessions in ASCO’s Thematic Quality Training Program (QTP) in January 2023. These QTP learning sessions will focus on improving vaccination rates for adults with cancer and blood disorders, how to be a vaccine champion, and National Vaccine Advisory Committee’s Standards of Adult Immunization Practice. The thematic QTP includes employing faculty, coaches, and guest speakers with expertise in quality improvement; increasing adult immunization rates; and addressing vaccine hesitancy.
ASCO’s partnership with CMSS is the result of a 5-year cooperative agreement that CDC awarded to CMSS. CMSS is a coalition of 45 specialty societies representing more than 800,000 physicians.
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