Evaluation of Frequently Administered Immunizations as Compared to Georgia_x0019_s Immunization Protocol within a National Commun Darlene Tat, PharmD, Joshua Kinsey, PharmD, Andi Clark, PharmD,
Background/Purpose: Since the addition of three immunizations (pneumococcal, meningococcal, and herpes zoster) to the per-protocol agreement in July 2015, which originally solely included the influenza vaccine, a Georgia Rite Aid district has seen an increase in immunization rates for the novel per-protocol immunizations. The primary objective of this study is to determine if immunizations administered per-protocol are the most frequently administered immunizations in three Georgia Rite Aid districts. The secondary objective of the study is to collect data on the attitudes of pharmacists in the selected Georgia Rite Aid districts with regards to per-protocol immunizations.
Methodology: This study is a multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional evaluation of Rite Aid Immunization Records in three districts in both Georgia and Alabama. Immunization data in Alabama was used as a control, where the immunizations of interest (influenza, meningococcal, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, Td, TdaP, MMR, varicella, Hib, polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and HPV) are per-protocol immunizations. For the primary objective, patients over the age of 18 having received a vaccine of interest during the study period (September 1, 2016 to September 1, 2017) were selected. For the secondary objective, pharmacists who work in the selected Georgia districts were selected to complete a voluntary survey about their attitudes toward per-protocol immunizations.
Results: This study is expected to show that the per-protocol vaccinations in Georgia are not necessarily the most frequently administered vaccinations in the three studied Rite Aid districts.
Conclusions: The findings of this study will be presented to members of the Georgia Legislature in an effort to encourage the addition of the most commonly administered vaccines to existing per-protocol agreements.
Presentation Objective: Compare immunization rates between Alabama and Georgia in relation to the varying immunization protocols.
Self-Assessment: Within the three districts, which immunization(s) are administered more frequently than the per-protocol immunizations?_x000D_
