TY - JOUR T1 - Primary Care’s Historic Role in Vaccination and Potential Role in COVID-19 Immunization Programs JF - The Annals of Family Medicine JO - Ann Fam Med SP - 351 LP - 355 DO - 10.1370/afm.2679 VL - 19 IS - 4 AU - Elizabeth Wilkinson AU - Anuradha Jetty AU - Stephen Petterson AU - Yalda Jabbarpour AU - John M. Westfall Y1 - 2021/07/01 UR - http://www.annfammed.org/content/19/4/351.abstract N2 - 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. ER -