Patient experiences with influenza immunizations administered by pharmacists

Influenza vaccination is the most effective way to reduce influenza infection and related complications. Unfortunately, vaccination coverage remains suboptimal. The addition of pharmacists as immunizers may assist in improving vaccine coverage. The experiences of patients who have received influenza vaccines from pharmacists is an important consideration for jurisdictions considering the addition of pharmacists as immunizers. We describe the reported experiences of recipients of influenza vaccinations by pharmacists in the community pharmacy setting in Nova Scotia, Canada. During the 2013-2014 influenza season, a paper-based quality assurance questionnaire was provided to interested vaccine recipients to assess their previous vaccination experiences and current experience at the pharmacy. More than 6,500 vaccine recipients completed questionnaires. The majority of respondents cited convenience as a main reason for receiving the vaccine in the pharmacy, with 50% indicating the service was better in the pharmacy and another 40% that the service was as good as elsewhere. Respondents also reported a positive environment in the pharmacy (e.g., less stressful, less exposure to sick people) as well as professionalism and knowledge of the pharmacists. Areas for improvement identified included better communication around the paperwork required (e.g., consent forms) and the wait time post-vaccination. This evaluation demonstrated that people who chose to be vaccinated by community pharmacists reported positive experiences and convenience was the primary factor for selecting a pharmacy as the site for vaccination.