scholarly journals An Assessment of Pharmacy School Curricula in Florida and Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV) Administration to Pregnant Women

Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Oluyemisi Falope ◽  
Cheryl Vamos ◽  
Ricardo Izurieta ◽  
Ellen Daley ◽  
Russell S. Kirby

Background: There is a high risk for morbidity and mortality in pregnant women associated with influenza virus illness. Vaccine uptake rates in pregnant women remain lower than the targeted Healthy People 2020 goals despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Few studies have examined the role of the pharmacist in providing immunization services to pregnant women, fewer still have directly examined the PharmD curricula and the perspectives of pharmacy students on how they perceive their role in providing influenza inactivated vaccine (IIV) to pregnant women. Objective: This study examined the PharmD curricula instruction with regard to immunizing pregnant women and how pharmacy students perceive it. Methods: Semi-structured, in-depth, in-person qualitative interviews were conducted with the six Academic Deans of the accredited schools of pharmacy in Florida, and three focus group sessions were held with third- and fourth-year pharmacy students (n = 18) in Florida. A thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Most academic deans reported providing instruction on immunization in schools with respect to vaccine administration in pregnant women and called for a need for all schools to make it compulsory to include pregnant-women-specific content. Pharmacy students reported a gap in knowledge of content related to administering the IIV in pregnant women, but feel that when presented with the opportunity, they will be willing to provide IIV to pregnant women. Conclusions: Pharmacists are in a good position to play a role in increasing IIV rates among pregnant women. Implications for practice include the need for incorporation of pregnancy-specific content to immunization curricula.

Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Oluyemisi Falope ◽  
Cheryl Vamos ◽  
Ricardo Izurieta ◽  
Ellen Daley ◽  
Russell S. Kirby

Background: Influenza vaccine rates in pregnant women remain suboptimal despite the recommendations from healthcare organizations. Though pharmacists can provide immunization services as a result of the standing order, few studies have examined the role of the pharmacist in providing immunization to pregnant women or explored their perspective on their role in providing influenza vaccines among pregnant women. Purpose: This study explored the perceptions and knowledge of Florida pharmacists in administering inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) to pregnant women. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews guided by the theory of planned behavior were conducted with 18 licensed Florida pharmacists, including clinical and retail pharmacists. A thematic analysis was conducted. Results: The majority of pharmacists (94%) were knowledgeable about the IIV in pregnant women. Participants expressed mixed attitudes, identified barriers and facilitators, and subjective norms influencing vaccine administration in pregnant women. Participants expressed the importance of trust and how that influenced vaccine uptake. Participants also expressed their position not to only provide immunization services but also to counsel and educate patients. Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen immunization services, provided by pharmacists to more individuals, including high-risk groups such as pregnant women.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X697205
Author(s):  
Elise Tessier ◽  
Richard Pebody ◽  
Nicki Boddington ◽  
Michael Edelstein ◽  
Joanne White ◽  
...  

BackgroundVaccine uptake data is automatically extracted from all GP practices in England via the web-based reporting system, ImmForm, on behalf of Public Health England. In 2016/17, an Uptake Summary Tool was introduced on ImmForm for practice managers, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and screening and immunisation teams (SCRIMMS) to help facilitate local and regional management of the influenza programme. The tool allows practices to view and evaluate influenza uptake rates by target cohorts, comparing them against the previous season and CCG average/overall national uptake each week.AimTo assess how many practices use the Uptake Summary Tool and whether there is a difference in vaccine uptake among practices that use the tool compared with those that don’t during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 influenza seasons.MethodPractice level use of the Uptake Summary Tool was examined for the 2016/17 influenza season and vaccine uptake compared between practices that used the tool and those that did not.ResultsAn average of 1272 practices used the tool each week during the 2016/17. Vaccine uptake was on average 2.9% greater for targeted cohorts in practices that used the tool than practices that did not during the 2016/17 season.ConclusionWhen used on a regular basis the Uptake Summary Tool can help GP practices, CCGs and SCRIMMS monitor vaccine and may be associated with increased vaccine uptake. Uptake for the 2017/18 season will be monitored and assessed throughout the current season. We aim to expand the tool to other vaccine collections in the near future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205520762110121
Author(s):  
Joanne E Parsons ◽  
Katie V Newby ◽  
David P French ◽  
Elizabeth Bailey ◽  
Nadia Inglis

Objective Pregnant women and unborn babies are at increased risk of complications from influenza, including pneumonia, yet in the UK, uptake of flu vaccination amongst this population remains <50%. Pregnant women hold beliefs about risks of flu and efficacy of vaccination that consistently predict them to decline vaccination. This study aimed to develop a theory and evidence-based intervention addressing these beliefs to promote flu vaccine uptake. Methods The intervention was developed by behavioural scientists, pregnant women, midwives, clinicians and Public Health professionals, informed by Intervention Mapping. Six predefined steps were performed in line with Intervention Mapping. Results The intervention is an animation addressing beliefs about risks of flu and efficacy of vaccination. Preliminary testing using qualitative methodology indicates the information within the animation is appropriate, and the animation is acceptable to pregnant women. Conclusions This is the first known intervention for pregnant women, aiming to increase flu vaccination through addressing risk and efficacy appraisals. It has been implemented within seasonal flu vaccination campaigns during 2018/19 and 2019/20 within one geographically and ethnically diverse area of the UK.


2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-497
Author(s):  
Jonathan Alschech ◽  
Stephanie Begun

Research on young parents experiencing homelessness has typically focused on mothers and pregnant women. Young homeless fathers’ tendencies to decline involvement throughout pregnancy and in their children’s lives have been documented and condemned; however, little is known about young men’s perspectives on these situations. This exploratory study engaged homeless young men in qualitative interviews regarding their perceptions and experiences of fathering. Respondents often viewed fatherhood as solely representing breadwinner responsibilities and as a burden that one dutifully carries or shamefully (yet commonly) shirks. Homeless young men’s beliefs about fathering, often steeped in guilt and shame, may suggest that encouraging alternative conceptions of competent fathering while young and homeless is an important area for further research, intervention development, and service provision.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Luthin ◽  
Sean R. King ◽  
Terri M. Wensel ◽  
Ashley N. Rosser ◽  
Mary R. Monk-Tutor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yauba Saidu

Immunization is a key public health intervention that can help nations attain Goal #3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as vaccines already prevent about 2–3 million deaths each year. To be effective, immunization services must be designed and delivered in a way to reach populations who need them, irrespective of who they are and where they live. Effective national immunization systems must have clear plans based on a vision of the future and a step-by-step process on how the vision will be translated into reality. Such plans are structured around eight topics that go beyond vaccine licensure and recommendations, including management, financing, logistics, human resources, service delivery, vaccine supply and quality, disease surveillance, advocacy and communication. The cold chain system is the backbone of any immunization program and consists of a network of equipment, material, people, processes, and financial resources that enable safe transportation of vaccines from the factory to the point of administration to the patient. Immunization service delivery includes any strategies and activities for delivering immunization service to a target population. Introduction of a new vaccine in a country program requires coordinated decision-making, considering the burden of disease, the characteristics of the respective vaccine and the capacity of the immunization system to deliver it. Adverse Events Following Immunization is another key component as documentation of vaccine safety is crucial for trust in a vaccination program. Scientifically valid and timely burden-of-disease surveillance as well as vaccine uptake data are core functions of any vaccination program and needed for information of the public and for timely actions.


Author(s):  
Helen Bedford ◽  
David Elliman

Immunization is a highly successful public health intervention providing protection against serious infectious diseases. UK vaccine uptake rates are generally high, although pockets of lower uptake and social inequalities remain which compromise herd protection. The child health programme provides health professionals opportunities to introduce immunization to parents, offer ongoing information and advice, and remind them when vaccines are due. Improving and maintaining high vaccine rates depends on multicomponent strategies. In view of their relationship with families, health visitors are the key professionals to work with them to ensure that children are immunized fully and in a timely fashion, although in practice they now do not usually deliver vaccines.


2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
April J. Bell ◽  
Zelda Arku ◽  
Ashura Bakari ◽  
Samuel A. Oppong ◽  
Jessica Youngblood ◽  
...  

AbstractPrevious research has described the evil eye as a source of illness for pregnant women and their newborns. This study sought to explore the perceptions of the evil eye among mothers whose newborns had experienced a life-threatening complication across three regions of Ghana. As part of a larger, quantitative study, trained research assistants identified pregnant and newly delivered women (and their newborns) who had survived a life-threatening complication at three tertiary care hospitals in southern Ghana to participate in open-ended, qualitative interviews about their experiences in March–August 2015. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim into English and analysis using the constant comparative method of theme generation. A total of 37 mothers were interviewed, 20 about neonatal illnesses and 17 about maternal illnesses. Six of the 20 mothers interviewed about their newborn’s illnesses spoke at length about the evil eye being a potential cause of newborn illness. The evil eye was described in a variety of terms, but commonalities included a person looking at a pregnant woman, her newborn baby, the baby’s clothes and even the mother’s food, causing harm, even unintentionally. Prevention required mothers covering themselves while pregnant and keeping the baby away from others until it was old enough to ward off the evil eye. Treatment required traditional medicine, yet some indicated that allopathic medicine could help. The evil eye appears to serve a social control mechanism, encouraging pregnant women to dress modestly, stay indoors as much as possible and behave appropriately. The evil eye is a pervasive, universally understood phenomenon across three regions of Ghana, even amongst a hospitalized population receiving allopathic health care for life-threatening complications of childbirth. Understanding the role of the evil eye in newborn illness attribution is important for clinicians, researchers and programmatic staff to effectively address barriers to care seeking.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 774-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amnon Maltz ◽  
Adi Sarid

Background. We suggest and examine a behavioral approach to increasing seasonal influenza vaccine uptake. Our idea combines behavioral effects generated by a dominated option, together with more traditional tools, such as providing information and recommendations. Methods. Making use of the seasonal nature of the flu, our treatments present participants with 2 options to receive the shot: early in the season, which is recommended and hence “attractive,” or later. Three additional layers are examined: 1) mentioning that the vaccine is more likely to run out of stock late in the season, 2) the early shot is free while the late one costs a fee, and 3) the early shot carries a monetary benefit. We compare vaccination intentions in these treatments to those of a control group who were invited to receive the shot regardless of timing. Results. Using a sample of the Israeli adult population ( n = 3271), we found positive effects of all treatments on vaccination intentions, and these effects were significant for 3 of the 4 treatments. In addition, the vast majority of those who are willing to vaccinate intend to get the early shot. Conclusions. Introducing 2 options to get vaccinated against influenza (early or late) positively affects intentions to receive the flu shot. In addition, this approach nudges participants to take the shot in early winter, a timing that has been shown to be more cost-effective.


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