Pneumococcal Vaccine: Screening Tools Boost Uptake
- A recent study reveals that using technology-driven alerts in retail pharmacies can dramatically improve pneumococcal vaccine uptake among adults.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2022,only 23% of adults at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were vaccinated.
- The process involved pharmacists screening patients due for medication refills to determine their eligibility for the PCV20 vaccine.
Pharmacy alerts are significantly boosting pneumococcal vaccine uptake, according to a new study. Discover how technology-driven screening in retail pharmacies resulted in a remarkable 140% increase in PCV20 vaccination rates. Learn about the critical role pharmacies play in increasing vaccination rates and how they are helping to combat the low rates of adult immunization. The research highlights the challenges, including vaccine hesitancy, which affects uptake. News Directory 3 is committed to bringing you the latest developments in healthcare. Explore how these findings emphasize the potential of new tech plus community efforts to improve overall public health.Discover what’s next …
Pharmacy Alerts Considerably Increase Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake
A recent study reveals that using technology-driven alerts in retail pharmacies can dramatically improve pneumococcal vaccine uptake among adults. The intervention, which leveraged electronic health records to identify vaccine-eligible patients, led to a 140% increase in PCV20 vaccination rates.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2022,only 23% of adults at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were vaccinated. Among those 65 and older, the rate was 64%. Recognizing the critical role of pharmacies in community health, researchers implemented a Plan-do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle across 24 pharmacies within a large health system.
The process involved pharmacists screening patients due for medication refills to determine their eligibility for the PCV20 vaccine. Between December 2023 and April 2024, pharmacists screened 1,821 patients, wiht 75% qualifying for the vaccine. Of those, 130 received the PCV20 vaccine through the alert system. Furthermore, an additional 285 patients not initially targeted by the alerts also received the vaccine, suggesting a broader positive impact on pharmacist awareness and screening practices.
Despite the success of the intervention in boosting pneumococcal vaccination rates, vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. the study found that 51% of patients who declined the PCV20 vaccine cited a general disinterest in vaccines.
What’s next
The findings underscore the importance of retail pharmacies in vaccination campaigns and highlight the potential of technology to improve screening and increase vaccine uptake. Further efforts are needed to address vaccine hesitancy and build trust in medicine within communities.