Immunization services offered in Québec (Canada) pharmacies

Abstract

Canadian Pharmacists are easy to reach. Although Québec pharmacists are not allowed to administer vaccines, they can: (1) promote vaccination, (2) counsel patients on vaccination, (3) sell vaccines and (4) provide vaccine administration by a nurse. Our objectives were to describe immunization services given in Québec pharmacies and assess the potential relation between, on one hand, pharmacy characteristics and difficulties perceived by pharmacists and, on the other hand, vaccine administration. In 2008–09, an anonymous questionnaire was mailed to all Québec pharmacy owners (n = 1663). Among the 1102 (66%) respondents, 90% stated that vaccines were sold, 27% that a nurse administered vaccines in their pharmacy and 44% were planning to offer vaccine administration in the next five years. Three out of four stated they were doing vaccine promotion and 65%, vaccine counselling. Half of respondents said they would be willing to administer vaccines themselves if legislative modifications were made. Recommendations for cold chain maintenance were followed in 23% of pharmacies selling vaccines. Presence of another health professional in the pharmacy, higher number of opening hours, not being located in the same building than a medical clinic and having an agreement to collaborate with a public health unit or a medical clinic for immunization were positively associated with vaccine administration in multivariate analysis. Higher perceived difficulties with lack of demand from patients were negatively associated with vaccine administration. Most pharmacists are willing to increase their involvement in immunization. Collaboration between public health professionals and pharmacists should be reinforced.

Keywords: :

• accessibility
• cold chain
• organization
• pharmacists
• vaccination

Conflict of interest

CS reported receiving payment and travel expenses for presentations, not related to the topic of this work, from GlaxoSmithKline and Merck. ED received unrestricted research grants, not related to the topic of this research, from GlaxoSmithKline. JM is leading the Chair on adherence to treatments which is supported by unrestricted grants from AstraZeneca, Merck Canada, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer and the Prends soin de toi program. RB, FL and MM had nothing to declare.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec, the Faculté de Pharmacie de l’Université Laval and the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP) for their collaboration. We also thank all the pharmacists who responded to this survey. We acknowledge the participation of Josiane Rivard and Émilie Carrier in data entry and analysis. The project was made possible through a grant from the Québec Public Health Institute and the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services in the context of the subsidy program in public health for study and evaluation projects. The funding sources had no involvement for the conduct of the study and the preparation of the article.