Research
Influenza vaccination rates among pharmacists

https://doi.org/10.1331/JAPhA.2010.09146Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives

To quantify influenza vaccination rates and determine perceived barriers to influenza vaccination among U.S. pharmacists from various practice settings.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

United States in 2008.

Participants

1,028 respondents, including 895 pharmacists.

Intervention

A survey request was distributed manually at the 2008 National Community Pharmacists Association annual meeting, and an initial e-mail was sent with two follow-up e-mails to all pharmacists who receive e-mails via Pharmacist e-link.

Main outcome measures

Vaccination rates and barriers to vaccination among pharmacists.

Results

Pharmacists reported an influenza vaccination rate of 78%, with coverage varying across practice settings: hospital (88%), academia (86%), clinic (83%), and community (75%). Employers infrequently required the influenza vaccine as a condition of employment (7%), and slightly more than one-half (58%) compensated pharmacists for being vaccinated; both of these were significantly associated with higher influenza vaccination rates (P < 0.001 for both). One-quarter of pharmacists (26%) expressed at least one issue regarding the influenza vaccine. Pharmacists were significantly less likely to be vaccinated if they expressed a concern (91% vs. 43%, P < 0.0001). Community pharmacists were significantly less likely to be compensated for receiving the influenza vaccination and significantly more likely to express one or more concerns than pharmacists from any other practice setting.

Conclusion

Pharmacists reported high influenza vaccination rates overall, with slight variability among practice settings. Although employers infrequently required influenza vaccination, approximately one-half of employers compensated their pharmacists for being vaccinated. Employer incentives and pharmacist attitudes were highly correlated with influenza vaccination.

Section snippets

Objectives

Because little is known about influenza coverage among the general pharmacist population, we distributed an anonymous survey to quantify influenza vaccination rates among pharmacists from different practice settings. We also sought to identify obstacles to vaccination.

Methods

This study was approved by the University of Texas at Austin Institutional Review Board. Pharmacists were invited to complete the survey using two methods: (1) a survey request (i.e., informational cover letter with survey link) was distributed manually at the 2008 National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) annual meeting, and (2) an e-mail was sent to pharmacists with unique e-mail addresses who receive e-mails via Pharmacist e-link (∼24,000–26,000 unique e-mail addresses). Pharmacist

Results

Overall, 1,028 (∼5%) individuals completed the survey, including 895 pharmacists. Pharmacists resided in 48 states, Iraq, and Puerto Rico. The majority of pharmacists had earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (68%). Pharmacists had a median age of 49 years (range 23–87) and one-half were men (54%). Practice settings included community (60%), hospital (15%), academia (9%), clinic (4%), industry (2%), and other settings (10%). The majority of pharmacists (86%) reported patient contact, and 38% of

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first national study to examine vaccination rates among pharmacists from various practice settings. Regarding the distribution of survey respondents, our distribution mirrors that of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Our respondents compare favorably to the U.S. workforce, as determined by BLS: 64% community pharmacists, 23% hospital pharmacists, and less than 1% academic pharmacists.8 Currently, the only other national study to examine influenza

Limitations

Our population consisted predominantly of community pharmacists with less representation from hospital, clinic, or academic pharmacists. Based on the relationship between Pharmacist e-link and NCPA, we expected high community pharmacy representation and a response of at least 10%; however, only 5% of Pharmacist e-link subscribers responded. The use of Pharmacist e-link to distribute the survey request could have affected study outcomes because it is a for-profit entity and its surveys are not

Conclusion

Despite slight variability among practice settings, pharmacists reported greater vaccination rates than other health professionals or the general public. Significant improvements in influenza vaccination rates were observed when employer incentives were in place; however, coverage was blunted when issues regarding the influenza vaccine were expressed. Community pharmacists were less likely to receive employer incentives for vaccination and more likely to express one or more concerns

References (18)

  • A.E. Cowan et al.

    Influenza vaccination status and influenza-related perspectives and practices among US physicians

    Am J Infect Control.

    (May 2006)
  • M.B. Rothberg et al.

    Vaccination versus treatment of influenza in working adults: a cost-effectiveness analysis

    Am J Med.

    (2005)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Seasonal influenza: the disease

    (8 January 2009)
  • A.E. Fiore et al.

    Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008

    MMWR Recomm Rep.

    (2008)
  • T. Jefferson et al.

    Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults

    Cochrane Database Syst Rev.

    (2007)
  • G. Kilmer et al.

    Surveillance of certain health behaviors and conditions among states and selected local areas: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), United States, 2006

    MMWR Surveill Summ.

    (2008)
  • L. Flowers

    Racial and ethnic disparities in influenza and pneumococcal immunization rates among Medicare beneficiaries

    (8 January 2009)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Statistics and surveillance: immunization coverage in the U.S

    (8 January 2009)
  • C.R. Frei et al.

    Vaccination adherence and perceptions among infectious diseases pharmacists

    Am J Health Syst Pharm.

    (2008)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

Disclosure: The authors declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests in any product or service mentioned in this article, including grants, employment, gifts, stock holdings, or honoraria.

Acknowledgments: To Jennifer Saenz for clerical support, Kristi Traugott for editing and critiquing the manuscript, and Oakdell Pharmacy and the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy for financial support.

Funding: Oakdell Pharmacy and the University of Texas at Austin.

Previous presentation: American Pharmacist Association Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, April 3–6, 2009.

View full text