Industry advocacy groups like the NCPA aren’t shy about saying it: providing vaccinations should be a core competency of any community pharmacy. Patient, public, and business health all benefit from pharmacists providing vaccinations.
As with any new venture, there are barriers to overcome — including time, training, and reimbursement. But a wealth of resources exists to help get you going, whether you choose a do-it-yourself approach using publicly available guidance or decide to streamline the process by aligning with a dedicated industry partner. Regardless, a thorough checklist never hurt anyone. Here is a vaccination checklist to ensure smooth and seamless workflow.
There are differences in state rules on several variables, from vaccine type to patient age, so you’ll need to investigate the details specific to where you live. To see rules for your state, check out the “Pharmacist Immunization Authority” page from the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA).
Almost all states require pharmacists to be certified in vaccine delivery. Some require CE hours specific to vaccination to ensure professional development and for license renewal.
Check out the “You Call the Shots” page from the CDC to get the latest guidelines and recommendations in modern vaccine practice.
Decide which vaccines you plan to offer and where you will buy them. Along with a treasure trove of vaccination resources, the Immunization Action Coalition’s "Vaccine Manufacturers" page lists vaccine manufacturers, the products they sell, and contact information for ordering, including telephone number.
The Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System is a great resource to keep track of this year’s flu shot availability.
Proper vaccine storage and handling play critical roles in effectiveness. Vaccines that aren’t kept within recommended storage temperatures may lose their protective potency. Proper storage and handling begin with an effective vaccine cold chain, a temperature-controlled supply chain that includes all vaccine-related equipment and procedures. Check out the CDC’s Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.
Walk through each step of the process to make sure you’ve considered all the logistics, from scheduling patients to where you’ll administer the shots. Are you set up to take appointments for vaccinations? How will you handle walk-ins?
Remember that giving the shot is probably the quickest part. Someone has to complete medical history and consent forms, verify insurance benefits, copy health insurance and identification cards, bill for services, handle payments, and provide patients with the legally required vaccine information statement (VIS).
Remember how important pharmacy technicians can be in the non-clinical work necessary to support vaccine administration. Visit the American Pharmacists Association's "Certificate Training Programs" page, which contains a series of interactive online trainings on how technicians can support pharmacy-based immunization services.
Their roles can include increasing awareness of immunization services through communication with patients and other members of the healthcare team, collecting patient information, vaccine preparation, administration documentation, billing and insurance processing, organizing vaccine clinics, managing vaccine inventory and supplies, ordering new vaccines and supplies when needed, and ensuring vaccines are stored and handled correctly.
Administered vaccines should be documented in your local Immunization Information System (IIS). Find your state registry here.
You can also use IIS to look up a patient’s vaccination history. Automated reporting of patient immunization data to your IIS, which should be a feature in your pharmacy software, eliminates manual data entry and ensures compliance with evolving registry requirements. You should notify your patient’s healthcare provider of any vaccinations you administer, and you can find standard notification forms online if desired.
Set up your pharmacy to submit vaccination services for reimbursement through Medicare or third-party payers. While vaccines are often covered under prescription insurance, some of the major vaccines like flu are covered under the medical benefit. If you’re caring for Medicare patients, that requires becoming a certified Medicare Part B provider.
Make sure the community knows they can receive immunizations at your pharmacy. First, speak to your patients using outside signage, postings inside the store, bag stuffers, etc. Also, think about calls, letters, or emails to a specific demographic such as families with children.
You should also market the pharmacy’s immunization services to local medical providers and register at vaccines.gov. To talk to patients about their concerns, consider this 2-page printable resource from the CDC titled “Ensuring the Safety of Vaccines in the United States.”
With these steps, your pharmacy can become a trusted and essential provider of vaccinations within your community. By understanding state regulations, obtaining necessary certifications, finding reliable suppliers, ensuring proper storage, streamlining workflows, assigning clear staff roles, and handling reporting and reimbursements efficiently, you can seamlessly integrate vaccination services into your practice.
Moreover, effective marketing will help ensure your patients and community members know about the valuable services you offer. Embrace this opportunity to enhance public health and grow your pharmacy’s capabilities.
