Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to (1) describe the extent to which community pharmacies currently participate in promoting immunization and distributing vaccines, and (2) explain the impact of these activities by pharmacists on other health care providers.

Background:
Pharmacists can involve in immunization delivery as an educator or a facilitator. Pharmacists as educators actively promote vaccination, while facilitators assist in the vaccine distribution to traditional immunizers (e.g. physicians and clinics).

Objectives:
To examine current participation of pharmacists in immunization promotion and vaccine distribution.

Methods:
Cross-sectional survey study. A total of 2,558 community pharmacies were randomly sampled from 17 states that were purposively selected to maximize variability within the sample vis-à-vis state immunization laws. Telephone interviews were completed with key informants in 1,760 pharmacies (69%) during 2005-06. There were 1,707 pharmacies identified as retail settings. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the trend in participants' responses.

Results:
About 40% of pharmacies (n=676) reported that they participated in immunization promotion in past 12 months. 51% of respondents (n=868) said that their pharmacies were planning to engage in immunization promotion in the next 12 months. Around 1 in 5 pharmacists (22%; n=383) engaged in the vaccine distribution; those pharmacies resell or distribute vaccines to local physicians and/or clinics. Pharmacies located in urban or suburban area and affiliated with any school of pharmacy are more likely to engage in promotion activities and distribution activities.

Conclusions:
Previous studies by Madhavan et al. found the rate of pharmacy involvement in immunization promotion was 18.9% in 1998 and 27.3% in 2001. Our study indicated an increasing trend of pharmacists engaging in promotion activities. The nearly 60,000 community pharmacies nationwide are an important resource for assisting local health providers and health departments in achieving immunization targets and securing needed vaccine availability.