KEYWORD1:
Pharmacists, Immunizations, Training Program, Adults

BACKGROUND:
Pharmacists responded to the growing public health dilemma of people dying from vaccine preventable diseases by becoming actively involved as educators and immunizers. Pharmacists are able to identify at risk patients through patient-pharmacist interactions and computerized records. In 1997, legislation was passed allowing Virginia pharmacists to administer vaccines pursuant to a protocol. As a result, access to adult immunization services has been enhanced by pharmacists.

OBJECTIVE:
To describe the Virginia Pharmacists Association’s (VPhA) process of promoting and encouraging pharmacists as immunizers.

METHOD:
After 1997, VPhA offered the Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery: A Certificate Program for Pharmacists developed by the American Pharmaceutical Association and the National Immunization Program of the Centers of Disease Control. The program reviews vaccine preventable diseases, documentation, legal and regulatory issues, emergency plans, injection technique, and how to conduct a mass immunization clinic.

RESULT:
Over 300 Virginia pharmacists have completed the certificate training program. Currently, no database exists identifying the number of pharmacists administering immunizations at their practice sites. However, numerous pharmacists working in chain pharmacies and independently owned pharmacies routinely administer immunizations. One grocery store chain in the Richmond area reported administering over 27,000 influenza and 1,000 pneumococcal vaccinations for the 2001-2002 season. The certificate training program has also been incorporated into the curriculum at one of Virginia's schools of pharmacy as an elective course.

CONCLUSION:
Since the 1997 legislation was passed allowing pharmacists to provide mass immunizations pursuant to a protocol, many pharmacists have successfully completed the immunization certificate training program and are administering vaccinations to their patients, in particular influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations.
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:
Participants will understand the history and process of pharmacists implementing immunization clinics in Virginia.