PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Wilkinson, Elizabeth
AU  - Jetty, Anuradha
AU  - Petterson, Stephen
AU  - Jabbarpour, Yalda
AU  - Westfall, John M.
TI  - Primary Care’s Historic Role in Vaccination and Potential Role in COVID-19 Immunization Programs
AID  - 10.1370/afm.2679
DP  - 2021 Jul 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 351--355
VI  - 19
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/19/4/351.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/19/4/351.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2021 Jul 01; 19
AB  - PURPOSE Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic recovery will require a broad and coordinated effort for infection testing, immunity determination, and vaccination. With the advent of several COVID-19 vaccines, the dissemination and delivery of COVID-19 immunization across the nation is of concern. Previous immunization delivery patterns may reveal important components of a comprehensive and sustainable effort to immunize everyone in the nation.METHODS The delivery of vaccinations were enumerated by provider type using 2017 Medicare Part B Fee-For-Service data and the 2013-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The delivery of these services was examined at the service, physician, and visit level.RESULTS In 2017 Medicare Part B Fee-For-Service, primary care physicians provided the largest share of services for vaccinations (46%), followed closely by mass immunizers (45%), then nurse practitioners/physician assistants (NP/PAs) (5%). The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey showed that primary care physicians provided most clinical visits for vaccination (54% of all visits).CONCLUSIONS Primary care physicians have played a crucial role in delivery of vaccinations to the US population, including the elderly, between 2012-2017. These findings indicate primary care practices may be a crucial element of vaccine counseling and delivery in the upcoming COVID-19 recovery and immunization efforts in the United States.