Spinning the Globe from West to East: A Mixed Method Study to Examine the Impact of Pharmacists on Immunization Advocacy and Delivery in Asia Pacific

ABSTRACT Background Global effort is key to prevent and control infections effectively. While pharmacists’ involvement in the immunization neighborhood, collaborative effort to meet immunization needs of the public, has reduced burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in western countries, impact of pharmacist-involved vaccination advocacy and delivery in Asia Pacific remains unclear. Objective To examine the evidence for impact of pharmacists on immunization advocacy and delivery in Asia Pacific and to assess Singaporean pharmacists’ experience in becoming immunizing pharmacists through the American Pharmacists Association’s Pharmacy-based Immunization certificate training program. Methods A mixed-method study design consisting of systematic review and survey. The systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health databases from inception to March 2021. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies related to pharmacist-involved immunization advocacy and training conducted in Asia Pacific were included. Eligible studies were appraised for quality using CONSORT and STROBE checklists. In addition, a 20-item, Likert-scale survey evaluated the pharmacists’ experience in becoming immunizing pharmacists in Singapore. Frequencies of each response to the survey items were analyzed. Results Six studies were eligible for inclusion; 2 assessing impact of pharmacist as immunizer, 3 reporting outcomes of pharmacist-involved vaccine advocacy and 1 evaluating the structure of pharmacist immunization training. While study quality was minimal, all studies echoed positive findings as result of pharmacist-provided immunization advocacy and delivery. Of the 23 pharmacists completing the survey, 91.3% strongly agreed the importance of quality training to become immunizing pharmacists. Conclusion Although limited in number, studies conducted in Asia Pacific reported increased vaccination rates when involving pharmacists. Coupled with enthusiasm to be trained in immunization advocacy and delivery as elucidated by the Singaporean pharmacists, pharmacists in Asia Pacific should also be advocated for their role in immunization neighborhood as part of the global effort against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.