BACKGROUND:
Immunization advocacy spans the life cycle from newborns to the elderly. Pharmacists are trusted for advice and information, and are seen more often than other healthcare providers. Pharmacists are recognized as being the most accessible health care professionals, with the equivalent of the entire U.S. population walking into a pharmacy every week, thereby making them good advocates for immunization.

OBJECTIVE:
To improve immunization uptake through education and advocacy by pharmacists and to decrease the incidence of vaccine-preventable illnesses.

METHOD:
The Marion County Health Department (MCHD) initially collaborated with three different pharmacy retailers at more than 100 locations in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. To promote influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, the stores labeled prescriptions and stapled information sheets to each prescription for medicines suggestive of a chronic illness, for children 6 – 24 months of age and for everyone over 50. The project was such a success, that the MCHD is partnering with the Indiana Pharmacy Alliance and will coordinate a twelve-month immunization promotion, which will include four different initiatives at all major pharmacies within the metropolitan area.

RESULT:
The first campaign on influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations was completed in October of 2003. Pharmacists distributed 10,000 information sheets and labeled as many prescriptions. Pharmacies proved to be a terrific resource for educating the community about immunizations.

CONCLUSION:
Pharmacists possess a great deal of knowledge and can serve as valuable immunization advocates because of their accessibility to patients.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1.Describe how to develop and implement a community-based immunization campaign.
2.Identify how to form effective partnerships with pharmacists.
3.Learn about four successful campaigns designed to increase immunization awareness.