P3.F110: Parental, Pharmacist and Pediatrician: Value and Impact of Pharmacy-Based Immunizations on Pediatric Wellness

Background: During the Coronavirus-19 pandemic, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act authorized pharmacists to administer any vaccine recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to persons aged 3-18 years. This authority is often lauded as a solution to address decreasing pediatric immunization rates by increasing access, a measure now made permanent by several state legislatures and is being considered, in others. Assessment of the impact of pediatric vaccines given outside the medical home on whole-child preventive care is lacking. This study evaluates the views of parents, pharmacists, and clinicians on pharmacy-based pediatric immunizations (PBI) and pediatric well-child checks(WCC).

Project Description: Cross sectional surveys were administered from February-April 2024 targeting 1) Clinicians 2) parents of children aged 3-18, and 3) licensed pharmacists. Surveys examined parental use of PBI for their children, perceptions of safety, value of well-child visits, and parental experiences and future plans to obtain a WCC after utilization of PBI. Physician concerns with PBI were collected. . Parents who reported not supporting routine childhood vaccination were excluded. Sociodemographic information was collected (Table 1).

Discussion: A total of 207 parents, 89 clinicians and 15 pharmacists completed surveys. 105(51%) parents viewed PBI as being as safe as those administered in doctor’s offices. 89(43%) reported receiving routine and/or seasonal vaccines at the pharmacy. Of those, 76(87%) report still taking their child to a WCC after. 152(73%) parents would still schedule their WCC with their pediatrician after PBI. Across 16 evaluated domains of WCC, all had ratings as very important or important above 54%, and 10/16 >90%. Of clinicians, 73(82%) expressed discomfort with children receiving non-seasonal vaccinations at pharmacies, primarily due to concerns over the impact on WCC rates and safety protocols 72(80%). (Table 2) Additionally, 81(91%) reporting not being informed about seasonal vaccines administered at pharmacies, and 74(83%) for non-seasonal vaccines. Most pharmacists 12(80%) believed they could facilitate access to non-seasonal vaccines, with 11(73.3%) stating they remind patients to return to their primary care providers. 65(73%) clinicians and 1(7%) pharmacist are Vaccine For Children (VFC) participants.

Conclusion: While PBIs are of interest to parents, they continue to value WCC. Despite the possible convenience, choice, and flexibility associated with PBI, only a minority of parents currently utilize this resource, and the majority endorse continuing to adhere to WCC. Parents value enhanced vaccine accessibility, but there are barriers to collaborative care modalities between pharmacies and pediatric medical homes, including communication gaps. In addition, participation in the VFC program is a barrier to equitable access to PBI for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries, as the majority of pharmacies surveyed do not participate in the VFC program. Future policy recommendations should involve all stakeholders to understand and address what matters most to patients and families.