Immunization Weeks 1-4

What is a vaccine?

A preparation that is administered to stimulate the body’s immune response against a specific infectious agent or disease

Smallpox Vaccine Milestone

World’s first vaccine in late 1700s

Officially eradicated in 1980

Key components to eradication

Universal childhood immunization programs

Mass vaccination

Targeted surveillance containment strategies

What 2 ways do vaccines provide protection?

Stimulation of an active immune response

Induction of a critical level of population or “herd immunity”

Vaccine Equity

When everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, geographic location, or other determinants of health, has a fair and just opportunity to be vaccinated

Types of vaccine access and equity issues:

Geographic

Financial

Cultural

Factors contributing to suboptimal vaccination rates

Economic impacts

Engagement of health care professionals

Limited awareness

Increasing complexity

Health system challenges

Insufficient public health funding

Failure to vaccinate

Vaccine failure

What could cause failure to vaccinate?

Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation

• Religious, philosophical, or personal objection

• Safety concerns

• Misperceptions about the vaccine

• Lack of education on the disease

Lack of vaccine availability

Vaccine limitation

• Pregnancy, immunocompromised, age restrictions

• Maternal antibodies in vaccinated mothers have lower titers than native disease

Causes of vaccine failure

Speculations of decreased vaccine efficacy

Improper vaccine storage and handling

Age at vaccination

Number of doses

Maternal antibodies

Unknown factors

Healthcare system strategies for improving vaccination rates

Improve and enhance immunization registries

Ensure awareness and understanding of vaccine recommendations among all healthcare professionals

Link performance measures to vaccination

Leverage technology

Healthcare professional strategies for improving vaccination rates

Simplify vaccine recommendations

Emphasize the importance of health care professional endorsement

Broaden specialist outreach

Address disparities

Expand clinical support for vaccinations

Patient strategies for improving vaccination rates

Develop messaging to address common post pandemic concerns

Customize messaging

Vaccinate people where they are

Advanced marketing tactics

Mobilize the community to address awareness, affordability, and access

Legeslative/public policy strategies for improving vaccination rates

Advocate for funding

Endorse legislative and public policy initiatives

Reduce or eliminate financial burdens to vaccination

Key roles of pharmacists for immunization

Facilitators → host others who vaccinate

Educators/advocators → educate and motivate patients

Vaccinators → administer vaccines and increase access

Unique contributions of pharmacies to immunization

Access, proximity, extended hours

Identification of high risk patients

Trusted healthcare provider

Vaccine resource

Completion of multi-dose vaccine series

Ability to handle storage issues

Requirements for a pharmacist to vaccinate

Completion of APhA Training Program

CPR Certification

Apply for authorization from the state board

Liability insurance

Follow protocols

Immunization Information Systems (IIS)

Improves documentation and recordkeeping

Pharmacists should review

No federal system, limited by the state (ex. PIERS)

Vaccine Hesitancy

Delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services

• Cultural

• Trust

Vaccine Barrier

Practical obstacle preventing vaccine access

• Access

• Logistics

How does social media impact vaccine hesitancy?

Social media algorithms fuel misinformation

Celebrities and politicians spread antivax messaging

Naive users share false messaging

Vaccine Confidence

An individual’s trust in the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, the health care system, and the motivations of policy makers

Vaccine Complacency

Lack of a perceived threat from vaccine preventable diseases

Vaccine Convenience

Range of contributing factors from health literacy to transportation access

Vaccine Risk Calculation

Comparison of personal health risks of infection vs. vaccination

Vaccine Collective Responsibility

The desire and willingness to become vaccinated to protect others or to generate population or herd immunity

5 As Model of Vaccine Hesitancy

Access

Affordability

Awareness

Acceptance

Activation

Barriers to Vaccination

Autonomy

Benefits

Convenience

Safety

SHARE method for vaccine recommendations

Share the science

Highlight positive experiences

Address concerns

Remind about protection

Explain availability and costs