Qualitative Investigation of Community Pharmacy Immunization Enhancement Program Implementation

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Services
• Public Health and Preventive Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Community pharmacies offer nonseasonal immunization services, but vaccine administration rates remain suboptimal.
• The "We Immunize" program, a flexible intervention, aimed to improve pneumococcal and zoster vaccine delivery in Alabama and California pharmacies.
• Qualitative insights into factors driving immunization service expansion in pharmacies are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore pharmacist perceptions of the "We Immunize" program's acceptability, impact, and feasibility.
• To identify pharmacist-perceived facilitators and barriers influencing enhanced immunization delivery.
• To assess the program's effect on professional roles and patient care.

Main Methods:

• Practice-focused qualitative research design.
• Semistructured telephone interviews conducted with 14 pharmacists post-intervention.
• Data collected after a 6-month "We Immunize" program implementation.

Main Results:

• Key facilitators included technician involvement, workflow adjustments, training, feedback, goal setting, and marketing.
• Participating pharmacies observed an increase in pneumococcal and zoster immunizations administered and reported higher revenue.
• Pharmacists reported enhanced professional image, knowledge, skills, roles, and job satisfaction; technicians also experienced skill and role development.

Conclusions:

• The "We Immunize" program was positively received by pharmacists, demonstrating beneficial effects on immunization delivery in community pharmacies.
• Program flexibility and perceived benefits contributed to its successful implementation and potential for wider adoption.
• The intervention enhanced both pharmacist and technician capabilities, strengthening pharmacy-based immunization services.