The Expanding Landscape of Vaccinations for the Prevention of Pneumococcal Disease: The Role of the Pharmacist as Patient Educator and Vaccinator

Description:,Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common form of pneumococcal disease, accounting for nearly 400,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. Individuals older than 65 years with chronic, comorbid conditions and children younger than 5 years are at highest risk of infection and complications resulting in hospitalizations. In recent years, there have been updates and changes to recommended immunization schedules, and the most current updates and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will be reviewed. With the approval of 2 new pneumococcal vaccines, pharmacists must be well-informed about the serotypes in each vaccine and clinical recommendations for their use in specific populations to answer both clinician and patient questions regarding their proper use and indications. Barriers to vaccination and actionable strategies pharmacists can take to overcome vaccine hesitancy will be discussed throughout this program.,Educational Objectives,At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:,• Explore the pathogenesis, incidence, risk factors, and patient populations at greater risk of contracting pneumococcal disease,• Explain the current recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for pneumococcal vaccination in pediatric and adult patients,• Compare the available FDA-approved pneumococcal vaccines,• Identify the role of the pharmacist in educating patients about the risks associated with pneumococcal disease and in expanding awareness about the efficacy and safety of pneumococcal vaccines