Universally Recommended Vaccinations: Standing Orders

Standing orders authorize nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare personnel where allowed by state law, to assess a client's immunization status and administer vaccinations according to a protocol approved by an institution, physician, or other authorized practitioner. The protocol enables assessment and vaccination without the need for examination or direct order from the attending provider at the time of the interaction.

Standing orders can be established for the administration of one or more specific vaccines to clients in health care settings such as:

• Clinics
• Hospitals
• Pharmacies
• Long-term care facilities

In settings that require attending provider signatures for all orders, standing order protocols permit assessment and vaccination in advance of the provider signature.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends standing orders for vaccinations based on strong evidence of effectiveness in improving vaccination rates:

1. In adults and children
2. When used alone or when combined with additional interventions; and
3. Across a range of settings and populations

Task Force Finding & Rationale Statement

 

Publications

The findings and results of this systematic review have not been published. Read other Community Guide publications about Vaccinations to Prevent Diseases in our library, including articles about the previous review. You may also subscribe to be notified as new materials on this topic become available.

 

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Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Universally recommended vaccinations: standing orders(abbreviated). www.thecommunityguide.org/vaccines/universally/standingorders.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: June 2008