Impact of an Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Course on Enhancing Pharmacists' Knowledge

BACKGROUND In Poland, pharmacists have recently been authorized to administer vaccinations to adult patients in pharmacies, including influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. To obtain certification, pharmacists must complete a specialized qualification course organized by the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw (CPME). This study aimed to evaluate changes in pharmacists' knowledge following completion of a qualification course on administering influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. MATERIAL AND METHODS This pre-post study was conducted online between February 2024 and July 2025. Participation was limited to pharmacists eligible to enroll in the CPME course. Knowledge was assessed using an original 20-item single-choice test (1 point per correct answer) covering influenza and pneumococcal epidemiology, eligibility criteria, and the legal and financial aspects of vaccination. Analyses examined both the overall score and changes in responses to individual questions. RESULTS The study included only participants who completed both the pre-test and post-test, constituting the matched analytic cohort (n=327). The course significantly improved knowledge relative to the pre-training assessment (t₍₃₂₆₎=28.02; P<0.001; d=1.55). The effect was substantial, with a mean increase of 4.7 points across the entire test (Mdiff=-4.67; 95% confidence interval, -4.99 to -4.34). Respondents improved their scores by approximately 23% of the maximum possible score. CONCLUSIONS Completion of the qualification course on influenza and pneumococcal vaccination significantly improved pharmacists' knowledge. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess knowledge retention and determine the impact of expanded pharmacy-based vaccination services on public health outcomes in Poland.