Does the Emergency Department Have a Role in Immunisation? Yes-But Not as a Routine Vaccine Clinic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Immunology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) are not primary vaccination sites but encounter patients with unaddressed immunisation needs.
• Fragmented healthcare access, vulnerability, and communication barriers increase the risk of unmet immunisation requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of EDs in opportunistic immunisation care.
• To guide emergency clinicians in identifying and responding to patient immunisation needs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of clinical scenarios and healthcare access barriers.
• Framework development for opportunistic immunisation within ED settings.

Main Results:

• EDs can provide proportionate immunisation care, including vaccination, education, and referral.
• A team-based strategy is crucial for successful implementation.

Conclusions:

• Opportunistic immunisation in EDs is a viable strategy to improve vaccine coverage.
• Integrating immunisation care into EDs requires tailored approaches based on patient needs and service capacity.