Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) has officially linked up with IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science to jointly announce the results from a new report called Assessing the Impact of State Pharmacist Vaccination Authority on Vaccine Uptake in the U.S.
Going by the available details, the stated report reveals how restrictive policies regarding pharmacist vaccination authority may have resulted in millions of missed vaccinations for RSV, pneumococcal, and shingles in adults throughout the United States.
Talk about the published results on a slightly deeper level, we begin from the fact that states requiring a physician protocol for pharmacists to administer vaccines had a 9 percent lower average vaccination rate than states where pharmacists could independently prescribe and administer vaccines.
Next up, we must get into a piece of data, which saw states, where physician prescription was required for pharmacists to administer RSV vaccines, having a 14 percent lower vaccination rate than the states that allowed pharmacists to vaccinate independently or via standing orders.
When the average vaccination rates for RSV, shingles, and pneumococcal vaccines were studied adults across the states that require a protocol or a prescription for pharmacists to administer these vaccines, the results were, however, deemed as markedly comparable to the rates in states that had independent/Statewide Standing Order (SSO) policies
This may have helped an estimated extra 2.3 million adults receive the relevant vaccine.
“Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, yet their ability to administer vaccines varies widely by state,” said Robert Popovian, PharmD, MS, Founder of Conquest Advisors and GHLF’s Chief Science Policy Officer, who co-authored the report which examines how state-level regulatory policies impact adult immunization rates. “Our findings suggest that in states with stricter pharmacist vaccine administration policies, vaccination rates were significantly lower, which could have led to more than two million missed adult vaccinations. Policymakers should look hard at these disparities and consider reforms.”
To understand the significance of such a development, we must take into account how more than 90% Americans actually live within 5 miles of a pharmacy, making pharmacies a vital access point for adult immunizations.
Recognizing that importance, as well as the need to improve vaccine accessibility and uptake, the new report also brings forth an assortment of policy considerations.
These considerations begin from acknowledging the significance held by adult immunization in improving public health outcomes and reducing healthcare disparities.
The report further calls for greater attention on expanding pharmacists’ authority to administer vaccines so to put them right alongside physicians and other healthcare providers in the larger immunization drive.
Joining that would be a suggestion to evaluate the elimination of prescriber-level protocols or implementation of statewide standing orders, wherever appropriate. The idea behind that is rooted in reducing administrative burdens, particularly for independent community pharmacies.
Not just that, the report also stresses the need for assessing removal of prescription requirements in regards to adult vaccines. This should reduce barriers for vulnerable patients lacking regular or adequate access to primary care providers.
Founded in 2010, IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science’s rise up the ranks stems from aiding the case of human health, on a global scale, through timely research, insightful analysis, and scientific expertise applied to granular non-identified patient-level data. The institute’s current focus is understood to be on leveraging institutional knowledge, advanced analytics, technology, and unparalleled data,
Beyond that, it will also continue working alongside various stakeholders to drive a research agenda focused on Human Data Science. These stakeholders include government agencies, academic institutions, the life sciences industry, and payers.
As for the Global Healthy Living Foundation, it is best known for facilitating comprehensive research on health policy economics and outcomes research to better understand how current and proposed health policies, regulations, and legislation affect patients’ financial, healthcare, quality-of-life, and other outcomes.
“Limiting pharmacist vaccination authority can translate into lower immunization rates and increased public health risks,” said Vibhu Tewary, co-author of the report and Project Director at the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. “Assessing the removal of unnecessary barriers for pharmacists can help increase vaccination uptake, particularly for older adults and high-risk individuals who may struggle to access physician offices.”
