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A practical guide to establishing vaccine administration services in community pharmacies
1University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Seattle 98195, USA. jsgardne@u.washington.edu
Objective:
This article describes requisite components of a community pharmacy-based vaccine administration program and provides resources for obtaining training and materials to facilitate implementation in the pharmacy.
Data Sources:
Published medical literature accessed via Medline; interviews of pharmacists who initiated vaccine administration programs; government publications; professional publications including manuals and newsletters; and the resources of the Washington State Board of Pharmacy.
Data Synthesis:
Pharmacists in several states have initiated vaccine-administration programs for adults, adolescents, and children within their pharmacies with acceptance by patients, third party payers, and other health professionals. In some states, collaborative prescribing agreements between physicians or nurse practitioners and pharmacists enable pharmacists to implement high-volume immunization clinics as well as individual patients services. Standardized training is available from several sources, and in most settings vaccine administration services can be implemented with low initial investment.
Conclusion:
Vaccine administration may soon become an integral function in community pharmacists responsibilities for the health and well-being of patients.