Retail pharmacies and adolescent vaccination--an exploration of current issues

To describe adolescent immunization practices prevalent in retail pharmacies in the United States, where little is known about their potential for increasing adolescent immunizations.

State pharmacy association spokespersons with knowledge of statewide pharmacy practices were interviewed to assess pharmacy practices and vaccine-related attitudes. Descriptive frequencies and score-tested differences in attitudes, using the generalized estimating equation, are presented.

A total of 24 respondents from 24 states completed the interviews. Of these , 14 respondents reported that pharmacists vaccinate adolescents and in these states more than 40% of adolescents presenting for vaccines without a parent would receive vaccines some of the time. Knowledge of minor consent laws was found to be limited. Vaccines were routinely available in <50% of the retail pharmacies. Most of the respondents strongly agreed with Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' recommendations for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine (83%), human papillomavirus vaccine (58%), and influenza (71%) vaccine. The percentage of the respondents who believed that financial barriers make it difficult for adolescents to obtain human papillomavirus vaccine (96%) and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine (78%) was significantly higher as compared with those who had the same belief regarding influenza (35%) (p < .001). Nineteen respondents (79%) believed that adolescent immunization services in retail pharmacies will likely expand in the next 5 years.

If pharmacists want to expand their adolescent immunization roles, they should ensure the availability of adolescent vaccine and address clarification related to consent for vaccines in case of minors.