Most emergency department patients are found to be lacking in their vaccine recommendations
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Emergency departments (EDs) could play a vital role in improving vaccine delivery and public health in underserved communities, a new study suggests. The study, conducted between April and December 2024, surveyed 3,285 non-critically ill adult patients visiting 10 emergency departments across eight U.S. cities.
The research, led by Dr. Robert Rodriguez at UC Riverside, found that nearly nine in ten ED patients have not received one or more recommended vaccines. This statistic is particularly high among African Americans, uninsured individuals, and those without a primary care provider.
One of the study's co-authors, Dr. Jesus R. Torres, an assistant professor in the UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine, emphasised the importance of EDs in reaching patients who may not access preventive care otherwise.
The survey included questions about recommended vaccines like shingles, pneumococcal, RSV, tetanus, COVID-19, and influenza. Roughly half of unvaccinated participants said they would accept vaccines if offered during their ED visit, indicating significant potential to improve coverage if vaccines are made accessible in EDs.
The study, titled 'Emergency Department Survey of Vaccination Knowledge, Vaccination Coverage, and Willingness to Receive Vaccines in an Emergency Department Among Underserved Populations', was published in MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep in 2025. It was partially funded by a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
If implemented widely, ED-based vaccine programs could increase fully vaccinated rates to as high as 48%, more than tripling current rates. To achieve this, researchers propose expanding screening and referral programs, incorporating automated vaccine screening tools, and partnering with public health officials and ED personnel to integrate vaccination services into routine care.
The study's DOI is http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7429a1. No conflicts of interest were disclosed by the study's authors. The study was also co-authored by researchers from our website.
- This study, published in MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep in 2025, highlights the potential of healthcare settings, particularly emergency departments, in promoting health research, such as vaccination programs, which could significantly improve health-and-wellness outcomes, especially among underserved populations.
- The findings suggest that health research, like vaccine delivery, could be bolstered by partnerships between public health officials, ED personnel, and scientists, with a focus on implementing screening and referral programs, incorporating automated tools, and integrating vaccination services into routine care, thus contributing to the general welfare of the community.
