With flu season in full swing, the Endocrine Society encourages its members to help “Raise the Rates” and increase adult immunization rates among their patients.
Raise the Rates is an initiative led by the American College of Physicians (ACP) to help internists and other primary care providers in both understanding the immunization rates of their patients and making practice changes that promote immunizations.
The program provides QI educational and virtual coaching support from ACP Advance expert coaches to support increased adult immunization coverage as well as access to virtual learning community, tailored educational offerings, and the opportunity to earn more than 54 CME and ABIM MOC credits for participating program participants.
Patients with diabetes, even well-managed, are often at higher risk of developing serious flu complications which can result in hospitalization and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 30% of adults hospitalized with flu reported to have diabetes during recent flu seasons.
Furthermore, serious flu complications can make chronic health problems like diabetes worse as they weaken the immune system and make it harder for a patient to control their blood sugar levels. Coupled with the disproportionate risk diabetes patients face with severe illness from COVID-19, it is especially important for people with diabetes to have their immunization shots up to date.
National Flu Immunization Week this year runs from December 5 through 11. To obtain additional information about the Endocrine Society’s efforts to raise immunization rates, please contact Government Affairs Manager Grace Kranstover at [email protected]. We encourage our members to have these conversations with their patients, especially during this time when peak flu season has just begun.