Pharmacy Intern Involvement in COVID-19 Immunization Practices in New York State.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Public Health
• Immunization

Background:

• Pharmacists and pharmacy interns played a crucial role in COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
• Understanding pharmacy intern engagement in immunization is vital for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent of pharmacy intern participation in COVID-19 immunizations in New York State (NYS).
• To explore pharmacy interns' perceptions and experiences related to COVID-19 vaccine administration.

Main Methods:

• A 34-item survey was distributed to pharmacy interns across 5 NYS programs.
• Data included immunization readiness, participation details, experiences, and patient interactions.
• Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, and two-sample t-tests for pre/post participation comfort levels.

Main Results:

• 398 out of 460 (87%) interns participated in COVID-19 immunizations through work, rotations, or volunteering.
• Interns administered an estimated 57,100 COVID-19 vaccines, with 61.8% involved in direct administration.
• Comfort levels in vaccine administration significantly improved post-participation (mean 4.08 vs. 3.61, p < .0001).

Conclusions:

• Pharmacy intern contributions were significant to NYS COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
• Participation enhanced interns' confidence in administering vaccines and understanding pharmacists' healthcare roles.