Engaging Communities to Strengthen Vaccine Confidence | Building Vaccine Confidence with APhA

Objective: Discuss community-level strategies to engage individuals and special populations.

·              Topics Covered:

o   Community outreach programs driven by pharmacists.

·              Unique to pharmacists and the pharmacy team is their ability to get outside of their 4 walls and bring vaccines and other healthcare services to where people are

o   Central to many of these programs is support from government agencies and other payers – the availability of these resources in the future is unclear at this time.

o   Utilization of Community Health Workers (CPESN/NCPA Health Care Worker / Technician program)

§  There are pilots using codes that could be billed for this service.  Question is will money continue to be available

§  Build on trust the public has with pharmacy team members – think about what other screening / preventive services you can incorporate with these trained individuals. - they can be ambassadors for your practice

o   Addressing cultural and socioeconomic barriers to vaccine confidence.

• Connect with trusted community leaders
• Understand concerns from the populations your serve and who the influencers are with the community and family units
• Don’t preach – provide credible information and let them process it

o   Case studies of innovative engagement efforts, including partnerships with local organizations and faith-based groups.

• Offer to do talks
• Have discussion with organization leader and provide them with the facts they can use to reinforce messages

o   How pharmacies can leverage their accessibility to serve as vaccination champions.

• Luke can talk about access; distance to pharmacies; pharmacy deserts
• Community health clinics, events, politicians events, etc.

·              Featured Guests:

• Brigid Groves, PharmD, MS 
• Mitch Rothholz, RPh, MBA, FAPhA
• Lucas Berenbrok, PharmD, MS, BCACP, FAPhA 

·              Key Takeaway: Collaboration with communities 

 

Listen to all 3-parts of this series: 

https://pharmacypodcast.com/2025/03/10/vaccine-confident-podcast-series/