First name
Allison
Last name
Armstrong

Title

Community pharmacies as sites of adult vaccination: A systematic review.

Year of Publication

2016

Number of Pages

0

Date Published

2016 Aug 15

ISSN Number

2164-554X

Abstract

<p>Vaccine-preventable deaths amongst adults remain a major public health concern, despite continued efforts to increase vaccination rates in this population. Alternative approaches to immunization delivery may help address under-vaccination amongst adults. This systematic review assesses the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of community pharmacies as sites for adult vaccination. We searched 5 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, LILACS) for studies published prior to June 2016 and identified 47 relevant articles. We found that pharmacy-based immunization services (PBIS) have been facilitated by state regulatory changes and training programs that allow pharmacists to directly provide vaccinations. These services are widely accepted by both patients and pharmacy staff, and are capable of improving access and increasing vaccination rates. However, political and organizational barriers limit the feasibility and effectiveness of vaccine delivery in pharmacies. These studies provide evidence to inform policy and organizational efforts that promote the efficacy and sustainability of PBIS.</p>

DOI

10.1080/21645515.2016.1215393

Alternate Title

Hum Vaccin Immunother

PMID

27715409

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