An Update on Pneumococcal Immunization -Practices & Recommendations

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Since 2008, pharmacists in New York State have been authorized to administer a variety of immunizations. This includes pneumococcal vaccines for adults eighteen years of age and older. A majority of these vaccines are administered using a standing order or protocol from a physician or nurse practitioner. In these cases, the guidance to be used according to regulations is issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Disparities in vaccination rates exist among racial/ethnic minority adults. This study examined factors associated with influenza (flu) and pneumococcal vaccination rates among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and Asian American adults aged 50 or older living in New York City or Los Angeles and Orange counties in California

Ensure that all adults at risk for pneumococcal disease have received pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV). Patients 65 and older or with certain medical conditions (see below) need this vaccine at least once in their lifetime.

According to the CDC, up to 5,000 people die from vaccine-preventable pneumococcal disease every year, and vaccination rates are especially low in New York City. Only 52% of people over 65 have been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.

Pneumococcal coverage rates by racial/ethnic group were collected in the 2012 CHS. Coverage rates were low overall and within 11 percentage points for all races/ethnicities. Whites 65+ had rates of 55%, Blacks were at 49%, Latinos were at 44% and Asians were at 48% with an overall coverage rate of 50%. Rates did not change since the last time pneumococcal vaccination coverage was measured in 2008, when it was also 50%.

After registration, watch the video then complete the evaluation and the quiz to claim credit. 

Target Audience

all pharmacists

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
1. Describe the epidemiology and prevalence of pneumococcal disease

2. Identify patient-specific risk factors for contracting pneumococcal disease and indications for prophylactic vaccination

3. Discuss the current rate of pneumococcal vaccinations amongst adults in the United States
4. List the updated Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guideline recommendations on the administration of pneumococcal vaccines in adult patients

5. Describe the different formulations of pneumococcal vaccines, including protective effects, indications for use, and timing of administration in adult patients based on the updated clinical practice guidelines

 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE
    The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Course opens: 
06/22/2021
Course expires: 
01/12/2023
Cost:
$10.00
Rating: 
0

 

Suzanne Molino is an assistant professor in the Division of Pharmacy Practice. She serves as an ambulatory care specialist in Infectious Disease and HIV at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center at One Brooklyn Health within the Special Treatment and Research Health Center. Suzanne is a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist and received her pharmacist certification through the American Academy of HIV Medicine. She also holds an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist certification through the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists.​
She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in 2015. She completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in 2016 and a PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2017. Following residency, she served as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science in North Chicago, Illinois from 2017 to 2020. She served as an ambulatory care faculty preceptor in the specialty clinics of Infectious Disease and Pulmonology at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois serving both active duty military and veteran populations.

 

Dr Molino has no conflicts of interest with this activity

ACPE UAN   0042-0000-21-028-H06-P

In order to receive credit you must watch the video then complete the online evaluation & quiz.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE
    The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Price

Cost:
$10.00
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