Once upon a time, everyone depended on their primary care providers to administer their vaccines. Today, however, they’re relying more and more on pharmacies like yours to provide the vaccines they need.
Your pharmacy is used to administering a handful of vaccinations that patients need, such as the flu shot and COVID-19. So, why not offer a wider range of vaccines that will cover various diseases and age groups? By doing so, you can significantly enhance the health and well-being of your patients and expand your clinical service. For instance, your patients will have the convenience of getting vaccinated at your pharmacy that provides more flexible scheduling than doctors’ offices. Plus, patients can combine their vaccination visit with other pharmacy services, such as picking up a prescription or getting health consultations.
Your patients will have access to personalized care from your pharmacy, unlike doctors’ offices that require an appointment weeks in advance. Your pharmacy oftentimes has walk-in availability for vaccinations and provides immediate service when needed. You and your staff also take time to educate your patients about the importance of vaccines, dispel myths and misinformation, and ensure your patients understand the benefits and potential side effects of each vaccine. Plus, you can maintain and update patients’ vaccination records, ensuring that they’re up to date with their immunizations and receive reminders for future vaccines.
If your pharmacy doesn’t have a vaccine program just yet, but you’d like to start one, it will involve several important steps:
- Know your state regulations
Every state has specific regulations on which vaccines pharmacists can administer and any necessary certifications or protocols. Check your state’s guidelines and guarantee cooperation with any requirements. - Complete certification
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians need to complete an immunization training course accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Also, CPR/BLS certification and bloodborne pathogen training are often required. - Get a standing order or protocol
If your state requires it, get a standing order from a licensed physician. It’ll allow you to administer vaccines according to a physician-approved protocol without a direct prescription. - Complete a state board application
If required, turn in the necessary application and documents to your state board of pharmacy. You might need your proof of certification, training, and standing orders. - Acquire vaccines
Get to know vaccine suppliers to ensure a steady supply of vaccines. You may need to negotiate contracts and understand storage requirements. - Proper storage facilities
It’s important to invest in the necessary refrigeration and freezing equipment to safely store vaccines. You will also need to monitor and document storage conditions to maintain vaccine efficacy. - Set up an area to give immunizations
Designate a specific area in your pharmacy for vaccinations that is clean, private, and comfortable for patients. Make sure it meets all safety and privacy requirements. - Implement an efficient scheduling system
Set up a system for scheduling vaccine appointments to manage patient flow effectively, including online booking, phone scheduling, or walk-in services. - Train your staff members
Be sure that all pharmacy staff who are involved in the vaccination program are properly trained to administer vaccines, educate patients, and keep records. This will require time and resources along with ongoing education to stay current with best practices. - Promote your vaccine program
You’ll need to use marketing materials, social media, and community outreach to spread the word around town about the availability of vaccines at your pharmacy. Partner with local healthcare providers and organizations to increase awareness around town. - Educate patients on vaccine benefits
Talk with patients about the availability of various vaccines your pharmacy offers and the benefits of vaccinations. - Maintain detailed records
Record keeping is important, so be sure to include all the details of administered vaccines and secure compliance with any reporting requirements to local health authorities, including entering vaccine information into state immunization registries.
You will also want to implement several strategies that will make it easier for you and your patients, such as providing flexible scheduling. When you provide extended hours and offer flexible scheduling, you make it so much easier for patients to get vaccinated at their convenience. This will also help increase the number of vaccinations administered.
Educate your community by reaching out. Engage them in a community outreach program and educate the public about the importance of vaccines. Host vaccination clinics, partner with local schools, and participate in health fairs to reach more people. Health fairs are a great place to advertise your immunization program. You should also consider posting on social media regularly, sending out email newsletters, and setting up in-store promotions to inform your patients about the vaccines available and their benefits. These tactics can lure in more traffic to your pharmacy.
Are your pharmacy operations up to par? If not, it’s time to modernize them. Implement efficient workflows and use technology to manage appointments, track inventory, and handle billing. You can make payments less painful for your patients by offering various payment options and working with insurance providers to guarantee vaccines are covered. This will make it much easier for your patients to afford vaccinations and will improve your patients’ experience. Lastly, collaborate with local healthcare providers to refer patients for vaccinations. This can help increase how many patients come to your pharmacy for immunizations.
Vaccines You Can Provide for Your Patients
Listed below is a comprehensive list of vaccines you can typically provide in your pharmacy, depending on the state you practice in:
- COVID-19 Vaccine
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine
Recommended for all infants and children younger than 7 years old. - Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) Vaccine
- Hepatitis A Vaccine
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Hepatitis A and B Combination Vaccine (Twinrix)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
- Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV)
- Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
- Meningococcal B Vaccine
- Meningococcal Vaccine
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13)
- Pneumococcal Vaccines
- Polio Vaccine
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Shingles (Shingrix) Vaccine
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine
Recommended for older children, adults, and pregnant people between the 27 and 36 week of pregnancy. - Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
Be aware that some states have specific requirements for vaccines your pharmacy can administer. Some also have age restrictions for which vaccines pharmacists can administer. In fact, there are 18 states that do not allow pharmacists to administer routine vaccines to patients under the age of 7.
Vaccines that you can administer are listed on the CDC’s Adult Immunization Schedule. However, your patient must be at least 12 years old and meet certain conditions. You can also administer vaccines that are prescribed by a practitioner for a specific patient.
If you have any questions on vaccinations, here are some sources you can check out:
- CDC online
cdc.gov - FDA online
fda.gov - ACIP online
cdc.gov/acip/index.html - NCPA online
ncpa.org - APhA online
pharmacist.com
Getting Through the Challenges
With all the great benefits of a vaccine program, there are also downsides. For instance, setting it up requires an initial investment in training, equipment, and inventory. The upfront cost can also be quite discouraging. Vaccines often need specific storage conditions, such as refrigeration or freezing. So, you’d have to invest in the proper storage equipment and have your employees trained to handle vaccines properly. Staying compliant with state and federal regulations is also important and can be complex and time-consuming. Therefore, you need to keep up to date with changing laws and make sure they meet all requirements, including proper documentation and reporting.
You will also need to navigate insurance reimbursement for vaccines and understand billing procedures and work with various insurance providers. Supply chain management is also important and a bit challenging. You will need to ensure a consistent supply of vaccines, especially when there is high demand or during supply chain disruptions. It’s important to have strong relationships with your suppliers and contingency plans in place.
Adding a vaccine program into your pharmacy operations is challenging, but if you manage scheduling, patient flow, and administrative tasks efficiently, you will avoid disrupting other services.
If demand for vaccines fluctuates, you might face financial risks related to overstocking or underutilizing vaccine supplies. However, despite the challenges, numerous independent pharmacies have implemented successful vaccine programs by careful planning, investing in the necessary resources, and keeping up with best practices and regulatory requirements.
While all 50 states allow pharmacists to administer immunizations, there are limitations in some states. These may include the types of vaccines that can be administered and patient age limits. Find out if your state is required to have a collaborative practice agreement, protocol, or standing order. If your state doesn’t provide a sample standing order, you can find model standing orders available at immunize.org, the Immunization Action Coalition’s website.
Clinical Services That Can Improve Community Health
Chronic Disease Management
You can help your patients manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma by offering specialized counseling, education, and monitoring services. This helps your patients effectively navigate their conditions. Build long-term relationships with patients by checking in regularly and providing lifestyle advice and medication adjustments. Not only will you create long-term relationships with your patients, but you’ll see an increase in prescription fills and loyal customers.
Compounding Services
Differentiate yourself from the larger chain pharmacies, provide personalized care, and address the unique needs of your patients by offering compounding services. Compounding helps expand a pharmacy’s customer base and increases revenue through individualized medications. It can provide your pharmacy with a competitive advantage.
Medication Synchronization & Adherence
Provide immediate diagnostic information to your patients by offering point-of-care testing services, such as flu tests, blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol screening, and blood glucose testing. Interpret test results, provide guidance on adjustments to medication or changes to lifestyle, and when necessary, refer patients to appropriate healthcare providers.
Medication Therapy Management
Hire skilled pharmacists to conduct personalized medication reviews, identify potential drug interactions, and address issues with adherence. These services not only help your patients achieve better health outcomes, but also provide additional revenue through consultation fees and medication recommendations.
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- Pill Variations and Non-Adherence
- The Power of Unique Endcaps
- Prescription Flavoring
- Beyond Prescription Dispensing
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