Technology targeting immunocompromised patients for COVID-19 vaccine in community pharmacies

Medication targeting by community pharmacists may assess medical history of patients for recommendation of clinical services through review of their prescription history. Previous studies have implemented medication targeting to identify patients eligible for vaccine recommendations. Targeting of immunosuppressing medications may impact the rate of third primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered to immunocompromised patients.

The primary objective was to determine the impact of medication targeting on the rate of third primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine given to immunocompromised patients.

This observational, retrospective cohort study occurred within one division of a large community pharmacy chain. Included patients were greater than 18 years of age with record of at least one immunosuppressing medication dispensed one year prior to study enrollment and 2 primary COVID-19 vaccine doses in the pharmacy dispensing software. An intervention for pharmacist recommendation of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine was automatically loaded into their prescription profiles. The proportion of patients with completed interventions and confirmation of third dose administration was collected with demographic characteristics.

The pharmacy dispensing software identified 1670 interventions through medication targeting, though 69 interventions met criteria for study inclusion. Baseline characteristics of the included population were a mean age of 51.8 years of primarily female sex (69.6%) and Caucasian race (78.3%). Third primary COVID-19 vaccine dose administration and completed pharmacist recommendation was recorded for 2 (2.9%) patients.

Medication targeting identified immunocompromised patients for the recommendation of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Improved specification for targeting of dosing regimen and route of administration may result in greater accuracy of appropriate recommendations identified.