Pharmacists' role in increasing pneumococcal and influenza vaccination.

Purpose: The role of the pharmacist in increasing pneumococcal and influenza vaccination rates and the clinical efficacy of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines are discussed.

Summary: Institutional pharmacists often play key roles on multidisciplinary committees and have the opportunity to make preventive therapies, such as vaccination, a priority. Standing-order programs authorize health care professionals to screen for vaccine eligibility and contraindications, administer vaccines, and monitor for adverse effects when following a physician- or institution-approved protocol. Current vaccination levels for the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are suboptimal and well below the Healthy People 2010 goal of 90% of high-risk patients. Pharmacists should be familiar with the composition, immunogenicity, dosage, administration, efficacy, adverse reactions, contraindications, precautions, and cost-effectiveness of each vaccine, as well as with Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations and the supporting literature.

Conclusion: Health-system pharmacists have the opportunity and responsibility to protect those at highest risk of pneumococcal disease and influenza through the use of standing-order vaccination programs.