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October 30, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Pharmacist Impact on Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates Through Incorporation of Immunization Assessment Into Critical Pathways in an Acute Care Setting" Hospital Pharmacy (www.factsandcomparisons.com) (10/02) Vol. 37, No. 10, P. 1050; Robke, Jill True; Woods, Mark; Heitz, Sabine

Although prevention and treatment measures exist, the most prevalent vaccine-preventable disease is pneumococcal infection. All people over the age of 65 years and those with high-risk conditions are urged by the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee to be inoculated.  A recent study looked at the effects of having hospital pharmacists assess pneumococcal vaccination in their critical pathways for at-risk patients.  Immunization was necessary for 36.4 percent of the intervention group and 37.1 percent of the control group.  The pharmacist intervention improved vaccination rates from 56.1 percent to 73.8 percent. The control group's vaccination rate remained at 56.1 throughout the study.  Patients who were counseled in the intervention group had an 85.9  immunization rate.  The researchers  conclude that the pharmacy intervention was an effective way to improve inoculation rates--which will lead to less morbidity, mortality, and antibiotic resistance.

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