Despite the proven effectiveness of vaccines, adult immunization rates remain low in the United States. According to recent data from the CDC, 13.5% of adults in the country have received an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine, 42.5% have received an influenza vaccine, and adults 75 and older have received an RSV vaccine. Only 37.6% have. 1
Vaccination rates also remain low among racial and ethnic minority populations. This is due to long-standing social and health inequalities that act as barriers, including poverty, limited access to health care, distrust of the health system, and a history of discrimination in medical research. Increasing vaccine uptake among these diverse populations will be key. Overcoming health disparities.
At the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) 2024 Annual Convention and Exhibition, held October 26-29 in Columbus, Ohio, Drug Topics presented the We spoke to professor Lauren Angelo. Meeting with the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science School of Pharmacy to discuss what strategies pharmacists can take to increase vaccine uptake among diverse populations and how to address barriers and concerns specific to these populations. We will discuss whether it is possible.
“(Pharmacists) are the most accessible health care professionals, and often we are the closest opportunity for patients,” Angelo said. “Now that we know that most influenza vaccines are administered in pharmacies, we have a responsibility to do that. If we can offer vaccination clinics or mass vaccination clinics, those are great ways to reach patients.”
Click here to follow coverage of the NCPA conference.
Coverage of the National Community Pharmacists Association 2024 Annual Convention and Expo was supported by Red Sail, with independent editorial content produced on-site by the Drug Topics team. Vaccination trends. Report. CDC. October 24, 2024. Accessed October 27, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/vaccination-trends.html2. Granade CJ, Lindley MC, Jatraoui T et al. Racial and ethnic disparities in adult vaccination: a review of the current state of the evidence. Health equity. 2022 Mar 7;6(1):206-223. doi: 10.1089/heq.2021.0177. PMID: 35402775; PMCID: PMC8985539.
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