A practical guide to establishing vaccine administration services in community pharmacies.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes requisite components of a community pharmacy-based vaccine administration program and provides resources for obtaining training and materials to facilitate implementation in the pharmacy.


METHODS
Published medical literature accessed via Medline; interviews of pharmacists who initiated vaccine administration programs; government publications; professional publications including manuals and newsletters; and the resources of the Washington State Board of Pharmacy.


RESULTS
Pharmacists in several states have initiated vaccine-administration programs for adults, adolescents, and children within their pharmacies with acceptance by patients, third party payers, and other health professionals. In some states, collaborative prescribing agreements between physicians or nurse practitioners and pharmacists enable pharmacists to implement high-volume immunization clinics as well as individual patients services. Standardized training is available from several sources, and in most settings vaccine administration services can be implemented with low initial investment.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaccine administration may soon become an integral function in community pharmacists responsibilities for the health and well-being of patients.
Gardner
J S
JS
University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Seattle 98195, USA. jsgardne@u.washington.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010595:Pharmacists; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D014481:United States; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014612:Vaccines