Putting vaccine services in inflammatory bowel disease centers is critical to improving immunization rates, researchers say.
Researchers told Reuters Health that vaccinating patients with IBD has proven to be impactful in infection prevention, and that vaccine misconceptions can be reduced when countered by gastroenterologists.
Shubha Bhat, MD, a GI clinical pharmacy specialist at Cleveland Clinic, emailed 75 IBD centers across the U.S. in September and October 2020. Approximately 36 percent of respondents said their centers couldn't provide vaccines because of cost concerns in stocking vaccines, inadequate storage, lack of staff or reimbursement concerns.
"Many patients see their GI provider more often than their primary care provider and often rely on us to guide them on what vaccines they need in general, and specifically those needed based on the various therapies they have," Marla Dubinsky, MD, the co-director of Susan and Leonard Feinstein IBD Center at the New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Reuters Health.
More articles on gastroenterology:
Intragastric balloons recommended for patients with obesity, AGA says
CRH Medical acquires remaining interest in GI anesthesia practice
2 GI studies recognized by research forum