PC1005: Sharing the Pediatric Medical Home Vaccination Awesomeness with Our Parents and Grandparents- adult COVID Immunization in a Pediatric Practice in Semi Rural NC

Purpose/Objectives: One of the best ways to protect our pediatric patients is to surround them with protected adults (Flu, Tdap, COVID) - Vaccination rates in adults are suboptimal in America. Adult physicians often don't have vaccines easily available. Pediatricians are the experts in vaccination and are uniquely positioned as vaccination experts to vaccinate adult relatives of our patients. Vaccine storage infrastructure (pharmacy grade refrigerator/freezer, bar code reader, temperature monitor, generator backup) is a fixed cost and each additional vaccine has a small additional marginal cost. Providing COVID vaccination in a convenient, friendly and comfortable location will improve vaccination rates in adults.

Design/Methods: Adults presenting to the pediatric practice are offered Flu, TdaP and (since 5/2021) COVID vaccination.

Results: Sandhills Pediatrics has 25,000 active patients across 3 sites- Payor mix is about 50% Medicaid, 5% SCHIP and remainder is private insurance < 1% uninsured- Of the approximately 11,000 COVID vaccines administered by Sandhills Pediatrics as of 4/20/22, over 23% were administered to patients > 24 yo.

Conclusion/Discussion: Vaccination of adults in the pediatric medical home is good for patients, their families and the community immunity.