ADVAC GatherEd Front Matter

ACTIVITY CODE: ADVAC250

Curriculum Title
How Can You Improve Adult Immunization? Strategies for Community Healthcare Professionals

Release/Expiration Date
November 18, 2025 – November 18, 2026 

Statement of Need
Several vaccines are recommended for adults including those for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, tetanus, shingles (herpes zoster), pneumococcus, and hepatitis B. However, the diseases that are preventable by these vaccines continue to cause significant burdens for both individuals and communities due to suboptimal vaccine uptake among adult populations. For example, pneumococcal pneumonia is responsible for an estimated 400,000 hospitalizations each year in the US, yet vaccination rates remain low, particularly among those patients with underlying comorbidities or risk factors. The suboptimal uptake in adult vaccinations can be attributed to several factors, from poor access to vaccine hesitancy, and are influenced by age, ethnicity, socioeconomics, and education. One aspect of vaccine hesitancy that can be addressed in a variety of community settings is frustration with the healthcare community in the failure to validate concerns and engage in constructive conversation that respects views of patients. Community health associates, including but not limited to pharmacists, chiropractors, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and social workers can help address vaccine hesitancy by providing reliable and relatable information; building trust through personal experiences; facilitating open dialogue within the community; and actively debunking misinformation all while tailoring their approach in the context of how they engage with individuals within the community. Therefore, because professionals in these fields see many individuals on a regular and routine basis with the goal of improving overall health and wellness, they can play a significant role in helping to improve vaccination rates through personal interactions that foster trust and provide time to answer questions and reinforce the importance of vaccination as a vital tool for improving individual and community health.

Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this activity learners should be able to:

• Describe the burden of vaccine preventable diseases such as RSV, influenza, pneumococcal disease, COVID-19, and shingles in adults
• Summarize the latest evidence around available vaccines and describe their role in improving individual and public health
• Identify common misconceptions about vaccines and formulate responses to concerns commonly identified by vaccine-hesitant adults
• Apply community-based strategies to overcome barriers to increasing vaccination rates in at-risk adult populations

Target Audience

This activity is designed for medical and wellness professionals including but not limited to physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, psychologists, social workers, community pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physicians, nurses, chiropractors, case managers, respiratory therapists, speech pathologists, and drug addiction counselors.

Faculty

Mary Koslap-Petraco DNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, FAANP
Clinical Assistant Professor
Stony Brook University School of Nursing
Stony Brook, NY
Nurse Consultant immunize.org
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner House Calls
Massapequa Park, NY

Kaitlyn Rivard, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, AAVHIP
Clinical Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases, Vaccines, and Public Health
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

Disclosure of Financial Relationships
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) requires that the faculty participating in an accredited continuing education activity disclose all affiliations or other financial relationships within 24 months (1) with the manufacturers of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in an educational presentation and (2) with all ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to this activity.

Staff and Reviewer Disclosures
ACHL staff members, RealCME staff members, and others involved with the planning, development, and review of the content for this activity have no relevant affiliations or financial relationships to disclose.

Faculty Disclosures
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) requires that the faculty participating in an accredited continuing education activity disclose all affiliations or other financial relationships within 24 months (1) with the manufacturers of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in an educational presentation and (2) with all ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to this activity.

The following financial relationships have been provided:

Mary Koslap-Petraco DNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, FAANP
No financial relationships to disclose

Kaitlyn Rivard, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, AAVHIP
Advisor: Pfizer
Consultant: Field Quest, Office Hours, Wolters Kluwer

Providership
Provided by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL).

Accreditation Statement

The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning designates this other activity (blended live and enduring curriculum) for a maximum of 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completion as AAPA, AANP, and ANCC accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through their reciprocity agreements.

Other Credits

The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

This activity has been approved for 3.5 contact hours.

ACPE Universal Activity Number: 0396-9999-25-040-H06-P and 0396-9999-25-040-H06-T

Activity Type: Knowledge

Release Date: 11/7/25

Expiration Date: 11/7/26

CPE credit will be submitted to CPE Monitor^® on the first business day of each month. Partial credit may not be awarded for CPE credit; participation in the complete activity is required to receive credit.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 17273 for 3.5 contact hours

The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited Provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 3.5 Continuing Professional Education units (CPEUs) for completion of this activities/materials. Level 2. CDR Accredited Provider #AC001.

RDs and DTRs may submit additional evaluations of the quality of this program/material at QualityCPE@eatright.org.

The activity number for this activity is 190356.

AARC: 3.5 hours Continuing Respiratory Care Education

This course has been approved for Continuing Respiratory Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care. Course number: 195242000
 

This program has been pre-approved for 3.5 CEU by the Commission for Case Manager Certification to provide continuing education credit to Certified Case Managers (CCMs).

The Illinois Chapter Continuing Education Committee has certified that this course meets the criteria for approval of Continuing Education offerings established by The Illinois Physical Therapy Association. Accordingly to the Rules for the Administration of the Illinois Physical Therapy Act (section 1340.61) published by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant applying for re-licensure in Illinois can earn a maximum of 75% of their required continuing education hours from self-study. The hours awarded for this course are designated for self-study CE credit.
 

CME Online is recognized by the PACE program of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the Academy of General Dentistry Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE) through the joint program provider approval of CME Online and Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning. CME Online is approved for awarding FAGD/MAGD credit.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This CME/CE activity might describe the off-label, investigational, or experimental use of medications and/or devices that may exceed their FDA-approved labeling. Physicians should consult the current manufacturers’ prescribing information for these products. ACHL requires the speaker to disclose that a product is not labeled for the use under discussion. Discussion of scientific information on unapproved uses (SIUU), off-label, investigational, or experimental drug/device use: none

Pharmacists should consult with their state pharmacy on pharmacist vaccination authority included within their scope of practice.

Community health associates should verify with their accrediting or licensing body whether AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is accepted as an equivalent for continuing education requirements.

Disclaimer
The content for this activity was developed independently of any ineligible company. All materials are included with permission. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantor(s).

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Recommendations involving clinical medicine in a continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in CME/CE in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.
 

Method of Participation

Estimated time to complete this activity is 3.5 hours.  In order to claim the maximum amount of credit available, you must complete all of the following:

• Baseline/Final Assessments: 15 minutes each for a total of up to 0.5 hours of CME/CE 
• Two(2) Live group discussions: 45 minutes each for a total of up to 1.50 hour of CME/CE  
• Four (4) Self-study modules: For a total of up to 1.25 hours of CME/CE
• Action plan (1) development: 15 minutes for a total of up to 0.25 hours of CME/CE 

For questions, contact Karen Catino at kcatino@achlcme.org

Partial credit may not be awarded for chiropractors, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, physical therapists, or respiratory therapists; participation in the complete activity is required to receive credit.

Learners who claim a certificate for chiropractic, or dental credit will immediately receive a certificate of participation. Credit from the respective licensing boards will be emailed within 30 days of participation.

Contact Information
For questions regarding CME credit, contact Karen Catino at the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning at kcatino@achlcme.org

For technical questions related to this activity, please contact support@gathered.com.

Commercial Support
This educational activity is supported by independent medical education grants from GSK and Merck & Co., Inc.