Campaign Toolkit

Standing orders allow appropriately trained healthcare professionals (as determined by state laws) to assess immunization status and administer vaccines to qualifying patients outside of a clinical exam and without a provider present.

With standing orders, healthcare teams can streamline their workflows and administer vaccines more efficiently. Standing orders have been shown to improve immunization rates across a range of settings and populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) specifically recommends them for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations.¹ 

To develop and implement standing orders in your organization, follow the steps below.

Step 1:

Build support and determine priorities

• Identify what standing orders may already exist in your organization. Gather lessons learned from colleagues that will help inform the development of a standing order for influenza, pneumococcal, Td/Tdap, and/or zoster vaccinations.
• Engage leadership in discussions around the value of standing orders for routine adult immunizations. Emphasize how standing orders increase efficiency and reduce physician workload.
• Consult your state licensing and scope of practice guidelines. Every state has unique requirements for who is authorized (e.g., RNs, LPNs, MAs, etc.) to complete certain clinical tasks (e.g., administering a vaccine) via a standing order.
• Consider if clinical judgment will be needed. If clinical judgement is needed to implement the standing order, it may impact which staff should be responsible for its execution (i.e., a licensed nurse rather than a medical assistant).
• Determine priorities. It may be more efficient to tackle development of a standing order for one vaccine at a time. If you don’t already have a standing order for influenza vaccinations, consider starting with a standing order for influenza since this vaccine is administered widely on an annual basis.
• Create a plan to educate and gather feedback from all stakeholders affected by the standing order. It is essential to gain buy-in from physicians since standing orders are performed under the signing physician’s name. Develop talking points to address provider and staff concerns (e.g., to maximize staff comfort, standing orders will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect current guidelines).

Step 2:

Develop and refine your standing order(s)

Whether updating existing standing orders or writing new ones, every standing order for vaccinations should include content that explains how to:

• Determine vaccine eligibility
• Choose the correct vaccine when there are multiple options
• Administer the vaccine correctly and safely
• Document vaccinations in the patient record and registry
• Manage medical emergencies
• Report adverse events

Standing orders for vaccinations should also include:

• The vaccine name and schedule
• Needle size and dosage
• Administration procedures
• Indications, contraindications, and precautions
• Federally required information such as a Vaccine Information Statement

There is a template standing order for each of the four campaign measures (e.g., influenza, pneumococcal, Td/Tdap, and zoster vaccinations) included in the tools below. 

Step 3:

Integrate standing orders into clinical practice

Each physician will have to formally sign off on the standing order, agreeing to have their staff perform the actions outlined by the standing order under their name and license. To ensure smooth implementation, educate all providers and clinic staff on the new standing order, including purpose, changes in workflow, and impact on individual roles.

Step 4:

Maintain standing orders for efficiency, safety, and success

Store standing orders with other medical protocols and make copies readily available for relevant staff. Be sure to review your standing orders on an annual basis. Consult your Immunization Champion to ensure the orders reflect the latest relevant CDC’s ACIP guidance.

 

^₁ Modlin, J.F., Snider, D.E., et. Al. Use of Standing Orders Programs to Increase Adult Vaccination Rates. MMWR Recommendations and Reports 2000;49(RR01):15-26. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4901a2.htm