Pharmacy provision of influenza vaccinations in medically underserved communities.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the extent to which a community pharmacy can provide influenza immunizations in communities designated as medically underserved. METHODS: This retrospective study examined the number of influenza immunizations administered and populations served in areas with limited access to health care by Walgreens pharmacies during the 2009-10 influenza season. RESULTS: More than 43% of the U.S. population resides in medically underserved areas (MUAs), and our results show that Walgreens pharmacies served nearly one-half of this population. Nationwide, more than one-third of influenza immunizations were administered by pharmacies located in MUAs. In states with the highest proportion of their population in MUAs, the percentage of influenza vaccines provided in MUAs was much greater (up to 77.1%). CONCLUSION: Community pharmacies are convenient and accessible venues at which patients can obtain seasonal influenza vaccines and other immunizations. They are well-positioned throughout the country, including in areas that are otherwise medically underserved. These factors help community pharmacists eliminate one of the most important barriers to vaccination: accessibility.

Time and cost of administering COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in the United States.

In early 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. In response, two novel messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines: mRNA-1273 (Moderna) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) were rapidly developed. A thorough understanding of the differences in workflow requirements between the two vaccines may lead to improved efficiencies and reduced economic burden, both of which are crucial for streamlining vaccine deployment and minimizing wastage. Vaccine administration workflow costs are borne by providers and reimbursed separately from dose acquisition in the United States. Currently, mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 are the most administered COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. In this study, US-licensed and practicing pharmacists were interviewed to collect data on differences in terms of labor costs associated with the workflows for mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2. Results suggest the cost differential for mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 is -$0.82 (or -$1.01 when assuming volume equivalency). If extrapolated to even just a proportion of the remaining unvaccinated US population, this can amount to significant workflow efficiencies and lower vaccine administration costs. Further, as key differences in the vaccine workflow steps between the two vaccines would be similar in other settings/regions, these findings are likely transferable to health-care systems worldwide.

Does family group decision making affect child welfare outcomes? Findings from a randomized control study.

This article describes the evaluation of two family group decision-making programs (FGDM; Fresno n = 60; Riverside n = 50) administered under the California Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project. This is the only evaluation using random assignment to examine FGDM. Overall, results did not indicate more positive outcomes for children receiving the intervention, but did indicate that children were not worse than those receiving traditional services; outcomes examined were related to child safety, placement stability, and permanence.

Pharmacists as providers: targeting pneumococcal vaccinations to high risk populations.

BACKGROUND: Older adults and persons with chronic conditions are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. Severe pneumococcal disease represents a substantial humanistic and economic burden to society. Although pneumococcal vaccination (PPSV) can decrease risk for serious consequences, vaccination rates are suboptimal. As more people seek annual influenza vaccinations at community pharmacies, pharmacists have the ability to identify at-risk patients and provide PPSV. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacists educating at-risk patients on the importance of receiving a pneumococcal vaccination. METHODS: Using de-identified claims from a large, national pharmacy chain, all patients who had received an influenza vaccination between August 1, 2010 and November 14, 2010 and who were eligible for PPSV were identified for the analysis. Based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations, at-risk patients were identified as over 65 years of age or as aged 2-64 with a comorbid conditions. A benchmark medical and pharmacy claims database of commercial and Medicare health plan members was used to derive a PPSV vaccination rate typical of traditional care delivery to compare to pharmacy-based vaccination. Period incidence of PPSV was calculated and compared. RESULTS: Among the 1.3 million at-risk patients who were vaccinated by a pharmacist during the study period, 65,598 (4.88%) also received a pneumococcal vaccine. This vaccination rate was significantly higher than the benchmark rate of 2.90% (34,917/1,204,104; p<.001) representing traditional care. Patients aged 60-70 years had the highest vaccination rate (6.60%; 26,430/400,454) of any age group. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists were successful at identifying at-risk patients and providing additional immunization services. Concurrent immunization of PPSV with influenza vaccination by pharmacists has potential to improve PPSV coverage. These results support the expanding role of community pharmacists in the provision of wellness and prevention services.