Reducing Barriers Associated With Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake

This activity is accredited for immunizations credit.

This activity was originally presented at the 2023 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit.

Program Description

There continue to be disparities in vaccination rates across the United States, especially among adults as few receive all recommended, age-appropriate vaccines. Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of death and disability in elderly patients and in those with certain medical conditions, and a common but life-threatening disease in pediatric patients. Several vaccines are available and recommended for these patient populations. In 2021, there were 2 new vaccines approved, leading to changes in vaccination recommendations and schedules against pneumococcal disease. This activity will review immunogenicity and safety of existing and recently approved pneumococcal vaccines. Pharmacists play a pivotal role in addressing disparities and employing strategies to increase immunization rates for vaccine-preventable diseases, such as pneumococcal disease. Clinical and economic considerations for specialty and managed care pharmacists and approaches to overcome barriers to vaccination and vaccine hesitancy to optimize vaccination rates will also be discussed.

Target audience: Specialty pharmacists

Type of activity: Application
Release date: May 17, 2023
Expiration date: May 17, 2024

Time to complete activity: 1.5 hours

Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Investigate the barriers and health care disparities associated with pneumococcal vaccine uptake across different patient populations
• Employ the updated ACIP recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination for children, adults, and specific at-risk groups for vaccination
• Examine the new pneumococcal vaccines including a discussion of immunogenicity and safety
• Identify the roles of specialty pharmacists and managed care professionals in improving pneumococcal vaccine uptake through awareness of best practices, policies, and procedures that support CDC recommendations

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-23-210-H06-P. The activity is available for CE credit through May 17, 2024.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Disclosures

Chad Kodiak, RPh, PharmD, has the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Speakers Bureau: Pfizer Vaccines

Advisory Board: Janssen

Rupal Mansukhani, PharmD, CTTS, FAPhA, has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Milena Murray, PharmD, MSc, BCIDP, AAHIVP, FCCP, assisted with initial content development and has the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Consultant: Janssen

Speaker: Merck, ViiV Healthcare, Gilead

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh, MBA; Dipti Desai, PharmD, MBA, CHCP; Liza Patel, PharmD, RPh; Crissy Wilson; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta have no financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Anonymous peer reviewers have been used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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