331041
Impact of Access to Vaccinations in Pharmacy Settings on Disparities in Vaccination Rates
methods: We evaluated the impact of the expansions in pharmacist’s authorization on influenza immunization rates. We combined a novel dataset of state-level statute and regulation changes with state-level influenza immunization rates from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We use a panel data, differences-in-differences regression framework to control for state-level unobserved confounders and shocks at the national level.
results: We find giving pharmacists permission to vaccinate had positive impacts on adult immunization rates. These effects were particularly concentrated in nonwhite and low income populations.
conclusions: Expanding pharmacist’s scope of practice laws to include administering influenza vaccine had positive impacts on overall health and health disparities. Access to other vaccines in this nontraditional setting could have further benefits particularly those with lagging benefit effects such as HPV.
Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the publicPublic health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Identify the populations that benefit from access to vaccinations in a pharmacy setting.
Keyword(s): Pharmacists, Immunizations
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have completed a CDC post-doctoral fellowship examining ways in increase immunization rates. I have first-authored several papers looking at the impact of strategies to increase immunization rates.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.