NOTE: Click here for specific information on the Network-wide Flu Immunization Project.
Infectious pathogens, especially those causing Hepatits B and Pneumococcal infections, pose an increased risk to persons with chronic renal failure. It is imperative that facility staff as well as patients be educated and immunized against such pathogens. An additional concern, for people with chronic renal failure, nephritic syndrome, or organ transplantation, is that the efficacy of vaccines may be lower due to patients' immunosuppressed state, and they may require repeat or increased doses of vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidelines, dosing schedules, fact sheets, and vaccine information statements for a variety of infectious pathogens and vaccines. We strongly encourage review of the CDC links below:
The Adult Immunizations brochure for health care providers (October 2008) provides an overview of Medicare's coverage of influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines and their administration
Guidelines for Vaccinating Kidney Dialysis Patients and Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease is a summary of recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
Immunization Schedules (children, adolescents, and adults)
Vaccine Information Statements VISs, as well as frequently asked questions and distribution guidelines
The second edition of The Vaccine Handbook: A Practical Guide for Clinicians by Gary Marshall, MD, is now available for purchase. This "Purple Book" contains practical advice and background for the practitioner on vaccine infrastructure, standards and regulations, business aspects of vaccine practice, general recommendations, schedules, special circumstances, and how to address a patient's concerns about vaccines.
Documents on this page are presented in Adobe PDF format. To view the documents,
download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for free .
