ASCO has partnered with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) for a new initiative to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates among high-risk adults. The partnership is the result of a 5-year cooperative agreement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded CMSS, a coalition of 45 specialty societies representing more than 800,000 physicians.
As part of the initiative, ASCO—along with six other subspeciality organizations—will work with CMSS and partnering health-care systems to incorporate the CDC Standards for Adult Immunization Practice into clinical care and drive adult immunization through outreach, education, and quality improvement efforts. ASCO will engage 7 to 10 oncology practices and health systems to develop, test, and measure strategies to improve immunization rates. The cooperative agreement provides $22 million in the first year alone to support increased COVID-19, influenza, and routine vaccinations in high-risk adults with chronic medical conditions, including cancer.
Stephen S. Grubbs, MD, FASCO
“ASCO is pleased to have the opportunity to work with CMSS on this important initiative to improve vaccination rates among adults with cancer,” said ASCO Vice President, Care Delivery, Stephen S. Grubbs, MD, FASCO. “We are eager to help develop and disseminate targeted education, clinical guidance, and practice improvement to oncology care providers who are already playing a greater role in immunizing their patients.”
Along with ASCO, six other subspecialty societies will be working with CMSS on this initiative:
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE)
- American College of Cardiology (ACC)
- American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)
- American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
- American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
- American Thoracic Society (ATS).
Read more about the cooperative agreement at cmss.org/improving-adult-immunization-rates.
More information about COVID-19 vaccines for patients with cancer is available on ASCO’s online resources page at asco.org/covid-resources/vaccines-patients-cancer.
© 2021. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
