Pharmacists’ support and advice on vaccination to six groups of people are described in a new toolkit for pharmacists launched by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) recently. These groups have been identified as people who are particularly susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases and who could greatly benefit from support to ensure they are protected through vaccination and greater pharmacists’ involvement.
The groups are:
- People with chronic respiratory diseases.
- People with cardiovascular diseases. u People with diabetes.
- Older adults.
- Pregnant women.
- Healthcare workers.
“FIP has advocated the role that pharmacists can play in vaccination for many years. This latest resource aims to help pharmacists increase their positive impact on patients and healthcare systems because they can be key in ensuring that vulnerable groups avoid developing complications, hospital admission, and even death due to vaccinepreventable diseases,” said FIP president Mr Dominique Jordan.
For each group, Vaccination of Special-Risk Groups: A Toolkit for Pharmacists explains the reasons for greater vulnerability, lists the vaccines recommended, outlines key messages and advice pharmacists could give, and signposts to additional information that can be given to patients.
“In a growing number of countries, pharmacists are taking on roles in administering several vaccines to a range of age groups and have been granted prescribing authority for vaccines in several jurisdictions. However, their role in educating the public on the importance of vaccination is especially critical for vulnerable groups. This new FIP toolkit supports this role in a very practical manner,” Mr Jordan said.
