Barriers to vaccination delivery in community pharmacy practice: a cross-sectional study of pharmacists in Greece

Vaccination is vital to public health, yet community pharmacists (CPs) face many challenges in its delivery. As highly accessible healthcare professionals, pharmacists play an essential role in promoting vaccination through education, counselling, and administration, thereby improving immunization coverage and preventing disease. This study aimed to identify and categorize the barriers faced by CPs in Greece when providing vaccination services, focusing on challenges related to patients, governmental policies, pharmacists, and interprofessional collaboration.

A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using a 24-item questionnaire developed after an extensive literature review. The survey was distributed to CPs in Athens between October and December 2024, with 234 responses collected. The instrument assessed difficulties concerning vaccine administration, patient interactions, regulatory barriers, and professional collaboration. Qualitative insights were also gathered through informal discussions. Ethical approval was granted by the Pharmaceutical Association of Attica, which also endorsed the study.

Four major barriers were identified: patient-related issues (e.g. hesitancy, misinformation), government-related obstacles (e.g. regulatory gaps, inadequate remuneration), pharmacist-specific challenges (e.g. limited training, workload), and weak interprofessional collaboration. Younger pharmacists (≤50 years) and those with ≤10 years of experience were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy (P = .008) and to have received additional training (P = .006). Early-career pharmacists also frequently cited understaffing as a major issue (P = .015).

Despite significant barriers, CPs in Greece remain highly motivated to promote vaccination. Strengthening regulation, interprofessional cooperation, and continuous pharmacist training could enhance vaccine uptake and consolidate pharmacists' contribution to public health.