Adult Immunization Mobilization
Mural: Chapel Hill St., Durham, Artist Cecilia Lueza
Increasing Access to Adult Immunization
Vaccination is one of the most effective tools to prevent disease, reduce hospitalizations, and save lives. However, 75% of adults living in the US are missing one or more recommended vaccines.
Launched in 2022, the Adult Immunization Mobilization (AIM) initiative promotes routine adult vaccination through community partnerships that reach populations facing barriers to access. By working with both medical and non-medical partners, AIM is creating replicable roadmaps for community, state, and national organizations to follow. That same year, Vaccine Ambassadors submitted a proclamation recognizing the importance of adult immunization, which was signed by Governor Roy Cooper.
Vaccine Access project (VAP)
Making routine adult vaccines part of routine care:
Offering in-clinic vaccination services.
Many adults—especially those who are uninsured—face barriers to accessing essential vaccines. Free and charitable clinics (FCCs) serve as a critical safety net for health care, but most lack the resources to offer routine adult immunizations on-site. Vaccination services are often limited to flu shots, with patients referred to local health departments or, in rare cases, emergency rooms. Vaccines in these settings are typically limited. The result is a fragmented system that leaves many unprotected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccination is a process that requires trust and continuity of care. By outsourcing immunization services, clinics may unintentionally remove a critical part of that process: the trusted provider-patient relationship. The Vaccine Access Project (VAP) is making the case for the inclusion of routine adult vaccination services in FCCs based on feedback from both providers and patients. In 2022, VAP piloted the introduction of a limited supply of Tdap vaccines in two free and charitable clinics demonstrating how in-clinic access can work and why this critical service deserves sustained support and funding.
Community Immunity: In-Home Vaccination Initiative is a collaborative effort aimed at improving access to vaccines for home-bound individuals, particularly elderly clients and those with chronic health conditions. This initiative brings life-saving vaccines directly to the homes of individuals who may face significant barriers to accessing traditional healthcare settings.
The initiative is led by a partnership between Vaccine Ambassadors, CPESN, Meals on Wheels (MOW)*, and community pharmacies. Through this collaboration, the initiative ensures that vulnerable populations receive timely vaccinations, improving health outcomes, preventing unnecessary hospitalizations, and reducing long-term healthcare costs. The initiative also contributes to the broader goal of community immunity, helping to protect both individuals and the community at large.
*Currently piloted in Durham, Orange, and Wake counties in North Carolina.