Pharmacist-administered influenza vaccine in a community pharmacy

Influenza is a viral respiratory disease that is more prevalent in the late fall and early winter months in Canada.1 The global rate of influenza is estimated to be 5% to 10% in adults and 20% to 30% in children. Illnesses sometime result in hospitalization and deaths, particularly in the young ( 65 years), and people with underlying high-risk medical conditions.2 The true burden of influenza is difficult to measure since not every case is tested, but it is thought that up to 20,000 hospitalizations and 4000 deaths are attributed to influenza in Canada each year.1 The administration of the influenza vaccination remains the most effective method to prevent the spread of influenza.2 It is known to be crucial in protecting the elderly and those considered at high risk; however, in healthy, working adults, flu vaccination has been shown to have significant health-related as well as economic benefits.3 The Canadian Immunization Guide encourages annual influenza vaccination for all adults, especially for adults older than 65 years, those who are at high risk and those in close contact with children younger than 5 years.4 As one of the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists are in an ideal position to provide the flu vaccination to the community.5 In 2012, Ontario pharmacists were given the authority to administer flu vaccines to the public. The uptake has been positive, with 247,000 flu vaccines delivered in Ontario in the first year6 and more than 765,000 flu vaccines administered by community pharmacists during the 2013-2014 flu season.7 By providing more accessible flu vaccine administration, the goal is to increase the immunization uptake of the general population. Data from a study in the United States suggest that higher immunization rates are present in the states that allow pharmacists to administer vaccines.8 As pharmacists continue to expand their scope of practice, it is important to evaluate the overall patient satisfaction with the new pharmacy services. The purpose of this survey was to assess patients’ experiences in receiving their influenza vaccination in a community pharmacy setting.