Barriers to Implementing a Pharmacist-Run Immunization Service, as Perceived by Pharmacists, in a Community Pharmacy Chain

Background: Thousands of people die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. Pharmacists can be a valuable resource in aiding the success of immunizations. Objective: To determine the barriers to implementing a program utilizing pharmacists as immunizers, as perceived by pharmacists, in a supermarket pharmacy chain. Methods: A 15 question survey regarding the perceived barriers to implementing a pharmacist-run immunization program was distributed to 60 pharmacists in a supermarket chain in northwestern Ohio. The responses were tabulated using a 5 point Likert scale. The data were analyzed utilizing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results: Of the 60 pharmacists who received the survey, 43 completed the questionnaire (response rate 72.0%). A majority of the pharmacists surveyed believed that patient privacy was an issue in administering adult immunizations in a community pharmacy. The majority of pharmacists were concerned about the risk of adverse reactions to the vaccines and the need for a quick response to control these reactions. Twenty-five pharmacists believed that the prescription volume at their pharmacy limited them from having time to immunize. Twenty-one pharmacists cited cost as the main determining factor in a pharmacy immunization program. Conclusions: Many barriers to implementing a pharmacist-run immunization program exist. The future success of such an immunization program rests on overcoming the perceived barriers in a formal and timely manner.