Pharmacy-based immunization in rural USA during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of community pharmacists from five southeastern states.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Immunization rates for seasonal and non-seasonal vaccines dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the extent to which community pharmacies in the USA continued to serve as immunization sites during the pandemic. This study compared 1) the types and perceived changes in non-COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at rural community pharmacies in 2020 (during the pandemic) to 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2) the delivery of non-COVID-19 immunization services in 2020 to 2019.

Methods

A mixed-mode (paper/electronic) survey of a convenience sample of 385 community pharmacies operating in rural settings and have administered ≥1 vaccine in 2019 and 2020 was distributed in May-August 2021. Survey development was informed by relevant literature, pre-tested with

SUBMITTER: AlMahasis SO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9988709 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature