Implementation of a pharmacist-driven immunization program designed to improve overall vaccination rates in indigent and uninsured patients.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the results of a pharmacist-driven immunization program designed to increase overall vaccination rates among the low-income, uninsured patients in a free clinic.

SETTING

Cape Fear Clinic, a free clinic located in Wilmington, North Carolina.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

Cape Fear Clinic provides medical, pharmacy, mental health, and dental services to adults in 4 eastern North Carolina counties who are uninsured and have incomes of no more than 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.

PRACTICE INNOVATION

A pharmacist-driven immunization program consisting of a comprehensive chart review of every active clinic patient in order to improve the vaccination status of the clinic's patients at no cost to the patient.

INTERVENTIONS

Student pharmacists completed a comprehensive chart review of every active clinic patient to identify patients eligible for immunizations according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines.

EVALUATION

More than 500 patients eligible for immunizations were notified of their immunization status and educated about indicated vaccinations. Patients willing to receive indicated vaccinations would present to the pharmacy and a pharmacist or student pharmacist administered the necessary doses.

RESULTS

The vaccine initiative was introduced January 1, 2015 and has since delivered 1878 doses of vaccines as of June 30, 2016.

CONCLUSION

The immunization program implemented by pharmacists and student pharmacists at Cape Fear Clinic has been successful in increasing awareness of vaccine preventable diseases as well as increasing rates of vaccination among eligible clinic patients.