Pharmacist vaccination preparedness

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Immunization Agenda 2030 to improve equity of access to vaccination and increase immunisation coverage rates across all ages and special-risk groups. Concurrently, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) emphasised the importance of pharmacists' knowledge and skills in supporting professional development and pharmacy education in vaccination. With pharmacists playing an increasingly integral role in vaccine administration, this study aimed to evaluate pharmacists' preparedness in delivering immunisation services, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and validated by a five-member expert panel. The questionnaire, disseminated through the Pharmacy Council, collected data on pharmacists' educational background, training, perceived barriers, facilitators to providing immunisation services, and engagement in continuous professional development activities. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the collected data. Forty-eight pharmacists responded to the questionnaire (30 female, 38 Maltese, 26 practicing in community pharmacy, 22 had 1 to 10 years of experience). Variability in knowledge and confidence regarding vaccine administration was observed; knowledge levels ranged from very low (n=7) to very high (n=4), while confidence levels spanned from very low (n=15) to very high (n=2). A notable 38 pharmacists had not attended recent workshops or training sessions. Comfort with vaccinating patients was generally low, with 28 pharmacists feeling uncomfortable or very uncomfortable. Only 12 pharmacists had experience in vaccinating patients, and 36 had never administered a vaccine. Challenges encountered by pharmacists included lack of practice (n=22), lack of confidence (n=16), lack of knowledge (n=9), lack of time (n=6) and lack of space (n=3). Infrastructure analysis showed that 24 pharmacies lacked designated vaccination areas, primarily due to space constraints. Thirty-nine pharmacies had the necessary equipment for vaccine storage and administration. Documentation practices were inconsistent, with 30 pharmacists not keeping vaccination records. Continuous education needs were substantial, with 37 pharmacists expressing a need for additional training in areas such as managing anaphylactic reactions, hands on vaccination practice and regulatory compliance. Despite time constraints, 39 pharmacists were still able to dedicate up to 3 hours per week to training. Preferences for training formats varied, with 25 pharmacists favoring hybrid methods, 16 preferring in-person sessions, and 7 choosing online training due to factors such as convenience, interactivity, and time flexibility. The study highlights the need for targeted training programs and infrastructure improvements to enhance pharmacists' preparedness for vaccine administration, supporting broader public health initiatives. Future research should focus on larger, more diverse samples to validate these findings and develop evidence-based interventions.