Immunization

Doses of the influenza live, intranasal (Flumist Quadrivalent, AstraZeneca) vaccine are now available in the United States in time for the 2021-2022 influenza season.

Patients should be encouraged to remind their primary care provider to make sure they are on schedule and do not miss any vaccinations based on their age and conditions.

John Beckner, RPh, discusses the importance of collaborating with the medical community on the provision of immunization services.

Coadministration of the flu vaccine with other immunizations traditionally offered during flu season that pharmacies should continue to encourage.

However, according to the investigators, eradicating COVID-19 is considerably less feasible than the elimination of smallpox.

Jennifer Adams, PharmD, EdD, leads discussion on reasons for the mild flu season this previous year and share predictions for the upcoming flu season.

Vaccine-related updates seem to be made on a weekly basis and keeping up to date on recommendations can be difficult.

Expanding services and revenues for pharmacies while improving public health and reducing stress on parents and others in the health care system is a win-win-win situation.

Whereas traditional vaccines have used live or inactivated pathogens to elicit an immune response, mRNA is responsible for cellular processes, building structures, and more.

Panelists provide tips on how pharmacists can encourage their patients to get their COVID-19 and influenza vaccines this year.

COVID-19 vaccination opportunities will likely be present for years to come.

This has caused an ongoing problem with mistrust in many vaccines and medications, since there is still uncertainty surrounding how they affect other races and ethnicities.

A discussion on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on pharmacy staff and solutions to help combat pharmacy staff fatigue, burnout, and vaccine hesitancy.

Ticovac is the only FDA-approved vaccine against the TBE virus for individuals visiting or living in TBE endemic areas.

John Beckner, RPh, discusses some of the obstacles to achieving herd immunity for COVID-19.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy, discusses the importance of Black pharmacists in creating equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

With consideration of recent COVID-19 vaccine approval in adolescents, Jennifer Adams, PharmD, EdD, discusses pharmacy’s role in immunizing children of all ages.

The investigators said that attention-grabbing anti-vaccine arguments, regardless of scientific basis, as well as an overall distrust of the pharmaceutical industry, science, and health providers, seems to be primarily responsible.

Findings reflect fewer visits to health facilities, social distancing, and other safety measures implemented during the pandemic.

Suzanne Soliman, PharmD, BCMAS, discusses how pharmacy can help communities catch up on missed and overdue immunizations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer Adams, PharmD, EdD, share thoughts on why right now is the perfect opportunity to advocate for expansion of privileges to advance pharmacy practice.

The analysis used AstraZeneca’s global safety database, which contains all spontaneously reported adverse events from real-world use of its medicines and vaccines worldwide.

Liz Oler, PharmD, discusses the short- and long-term impact of the PREP ACT on expanded privileges and practice changes within the pharmacy profession.

Ed Cohen, PharmD, FAPhA, leads a discussion in which panelists share thoughts on pharmacies being at the center of immunization services for the entire family.

Staying on track with immunizations means modifying workflows and reallocating pharmacy staff time.

Since the start of the pandemic, politicization and misinformation have led to hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine. However, vaccine hesitancy is not a new behavior.

With many people remaining to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and everyone 6 months and older needing an annual influenza vaccine for the 2021-2022 season, many pharmacies are turning to pharmacy technicians to assist in the process.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased vigilance over the proper disposal of vaccine-related materials, such as vials, needles, syringes, and bandages.

Individuals with COVID-19 who had not had a flu shot were up to 20% more likely to be admitted to the ICU and were up to 58% more likely to visit the emergency department.