Abstract

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON ROLE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS IN VACCINATION PROGRAMS: OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES

Ashwini R. Telore*, Vaishnavi M. Ahuja, Pratiksha S. Nagargoje and Govind R. Daspute

ABSTRACT

Community pharmacy-based provision of vaccinations in the USA has become commonplace in the last few decades, with success in increasing rates of vaccinations. Community pharmacy-based vaccination services are provided by pharmacists educated in the practice of immunization delivery and provide a convenient and accessible option for receiving immunizations. The community pharmacist’s role in immunization practice has been described as serving in the roles of educator, facilitator, and immunizer. With a majority of pharmacist-provided vaccinations occurring in the community pharmacy setting, there are many examples of community pharmacists serving in these immunization roles with successful outcomes. Community pharmacists at the forefront of primary care provide information, advice, referral, treatment, and preventativeactions to reduce the burden of communicable and vaccine-preventable diseases. As part of their wider public health mission, community pharmacists and pharmacy organisations are also involved in public awareness campaigns on topics such as antimicrobial resistance and vaccine hesitancy. Currently, pharmacists can vaccinate in their pharmacies in 15 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom), for influenza and/or COVID-19.

Keywords: vaccinations, vaccine, immunization, pharmacy practice, pharmacists, continuity of care, antimicrobial resistance.