As a pharmacist, you play a pivotal role in ensuring communities are protected through immunizations. It’s more important than ever to be fully prepared and equipped to offer efficient, safe, and compliant vaccination services.
Read on to learn how you can improve your pharmacy’s vaccine preparedness and ensure that your staff is ready to serve your community.
Whether you’re opening a pharmacy or revamping your pharmacy’s vaccine program, it's essential to familiarize yourself with your state’s regulations. Each state has specific rules about which vaccinations pharmacists can administer and to which patient populations. This might include guidelines on age restrictions or health conditions for patients eligible to receive vaccinations at your pharmacy.
A helpful resource for this is your state Board of Pharmacy. Ensuring your pharmacy operates within state guidelines is the foundation of a successful immunization program.
Pharmacists and technicians must be properly certified to provide vaccinations. The APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate training program provides comprehensive resources, including full certification courses. Another resource is AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR training for healthcare professionals.
It’s also important to keep your skills up to date. Complete annual vaccine CE training as required by your state Board of Pharmacy.
Your vaccine inventory should reflect both seasonal and community needs. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines will likely be in high demand during certain times of the year (namely the fall and winter), while travel vaccines or shingles vaccines mainly serve specific populations.
Build strong relationships with reliable vaccine suppliers and you’ll always have the necessary inventory. Most wholesalers supply vaccines, and some manufacturers provide direct sales for their vaccine products.
The Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System (IVATS) will help you track the availability of key vaccines.
Now that you’ve sourced and received your vaccines, it’s time to properly store them. Consider implementing a Cold Chain System to keep vaccines at the right temperature throughout the entire process. Regularly check your storage equipment and processes to avoid any compromise in vaccine quality.
The CDC’s Vaccine Storage and Handling provides detailed guidelines to ensure your vaccines remain safe and effective. This guide can help your pharmacy minimize waste and maximize your vaccination efforts.
A smooth and efficient workflow is vital for providing efficient vaccination services. Start by outlining every step of the process, from scheduling to post-vaccination care. Ensure that patients complete all necessary medical history and consent forms beforehand, and always provide the required Vaccine Information Statements (VIS).
Leverage your pharmacy software every step of the way. Using pharmacy management software such as PioneerRx, BestRx, Axys LTC, NRx, or PrimeCare can simplify scheduling, patient data management, and documentation. These software solutions help keep your vaccination program organized and efficient, so your team can focus on the task at hand.
Review your state Board of Pharmacy regulations for specific roles that may be assigned to each staff member to ensure a smooth and organized vaccination workflow. For example, in some states pharmacy technicians can assist with patient information collection, vaccine preparation, documentation, and inventory management.
The APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Administration by Pharmacy Technicians is one resource for ensuring that your technicians are trained and ready to support your immunization efforts – if allowed by your state.
Accurate and timely reporting is key to staying compliant with vaccination regulations. All administered vaccines should be reported to your state’s Immunization Information System (IIS) to maintain an accurate patient vaccination history. This helps to prevent duplicate vaccinations and ensures compliance with local guidelines. Provide your patients with an updated immunization history card, as well.
Additionally, notify patients' primary healthcare providers of any vaccines administered. This keeps all healthcare providers in the loop and ensures continuity of care for patients. What’s more, doing this strengthens your pharmacy’s relationship with other healthcare providers in the community.
Understanding the ins and outs of vaccine billing is crucial for a sustainable vaccination program. Establish clear processes for billing through commercial, Medicare, and other third-party payers (your pharmacy software can make this process considerably smoother). Most payers cover vaccines under the prescription benefit with additional information required. Each payer will have specific requirements for billing vaccine administration.
If you serve Medicare patients, it’s important to become a certified Medicare Part B provider for COVID, influenza, and pneumonia vaccines. This CMS guide can help.
Your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) is specific to the region where you practice and may have additional requests for information while they process your application. You can check in with your MAC regarding your enrollment status using this resource. A medical billing intermediary such as RedSail Medical Billing can also be invaluable.
To ensure the success of your vaccination program, it’s important to market your services to the community. Use in-store signage, flyers, and other communication methods like phone calls or emails to promote your vaccination program.
Target specific groups, such as families, seniors, or at-risk populations, and consider registering with VaccineFinder to increase your pharmacy's visibility.
It’s also crucial to be prepared to address any vaccine concerns or hesitations patients may have. The CDC’s Vaccine Safety web page can help you answer patient questions and provide reassurance about vaccine safety.
As mentioned earlier, choosing adaptable pharmacy software is a game-changer when it comes to managing vaccination workflows. Our software solutions can streamline medical billing, track inventory, and ensure compliance with local and federal regulations.
Vaccine preparedness involves more than just ordering vaccines — it requires a comprehensive approach that spans compliance, training, logistics, and marketing. By following these steps, your pharmacy can be ready to offer a seamless, efficient vaccination program that meets the needs of your community.
