Pharmacists Combat Flu Misinformation and Expand Vaccine Access

In an interview, Kristi Veis, PharmD, RPh, vice president of pharmacy at Hi-School Pharmacy, discusses misinformation, immunization clinics, and her own experiences as an immunizer.

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Q: How can pharmacists combat misinformation when it comes to influenza vaccination?

Kristi Veis: Combating misinformation concerning influenza vaccinations is to reiterate that the vaccine is not going to make them catch the flu; it is to prevent the flu. Be understanding and compassionate towards the hesitant patients. I typically relay to them that although there are many strains of influenza, the vaccines that are created for the current year are developed through collaboration with other countries and the best combination is chosen for that season. As it may take 2 weeks to gain immunity from the influenza vaccine, and other vaccines, flu and flu-like symptoms may occur in the interim or an entirely new strain could cause influenza, so continuing to engage in good hygiene and protecting oneself by wearing a mask if feeling symptoms is recommended during that time. Having all employees direct influenza, and all other vaccine questions, to our pharmacists and interns helps mitigate misinformation to our patients.

As a pharmacist, patients value what I say and if I can personalize my information then they are more apt to listen. My go-to story is telling them about the year I got the flu and missed an entire week of work, the most I had ever taken off for being ill in my entire career, because I forgot to get vaccinated myself. Directing people to reputable websites, and away from social media platforms that have current information on trends for influenza and vaccination rates in the country is another way to combat misinformation.

Q: What is the role of pharmacies in providing vaccinations for underserved communities?

The role of pharmacies in providing vaccinations for underserved communities is to reach out to local groups around the area. Inform them of our availability at the pharmacy. Engage with them and ask if they would be interested in collaborating on an event that includes a pharmacist vaccinating. Reaching out to one school district can help gain connections to another school district, which may be in an underserved community. Now the door has been opened to help that community who may not even know about on-site vaccinations. Talking to local church groups [and] engaging with your local health departments to establish where there are pockets of underserved communities and collaborating to help these vulnerable patients. When a pharmacy gets a call from a local group home or nursing home try to accommodate and get onsite to vaccinate their patients or have a time that they can come in the off-hours. Make connections with pharmacy organizations as the leadership and other members may know of underserved populations in need of help in your area.

Q: How can pharmacists and other health care professionals work together to ensure influenza prevention and management?

Pharmacists and other health care professionals can work together to ensure influenza prevention by engaging in conversation about their perspective clinic/pharmacy availability to vaccinate, or not, and the ages that each are willing and able to vaccinate. Ordering enough vaccines to cover the entire season at the pharmacy level so that [physicians] can send their patients directly to the pharmacy for vaccination [or] sending patients to a nearby pharmacy if they are out of stock.

Concerning the management of influenza, the clinic should call to see if the prescription drug is available for the patient and when it could be ready for the patient to pick it up for the pharmacy to have prescription drugs readily available to dispense for treatment of influenza. The pharmacy could have other recommended medications in their over-the-counter section that are accessible to patients. Be willing to pull them aside for patients that call in for recommendations as we want the customer to have a speedy check-out experience at the pharmacy counter and to hopefully retain them as a lifelong customer. Having a collaborative practice agreement with a local clinic so that the pharmacist can test and treat for influenza, [and] for pharmacists to get paid adequately for all their services especially when counseling patients on medications to help treat their symptoms. Lastly, for all health care professionals to be on the same side of the aisle instead of divided when it comes to testing and treating.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

I went to pharmacy school in a state where vaccinating was not part of pharmacy practice although we learned the basics. I came back to Oregon and practiced for a year before I was told that it was no longer an option for me to sit on the sidelines and that our company was paying for a pharmacist immunization certification program. Fortunately, I was able learn my techniques from one of the first Oregon pharmacist vaccinators, who also happens to be my father. Fast-forward to today and I can now say that I have been the top vaccinator for our corporation for over a decade and am now training the next generation, but they happen to be certified technicians. We have come quite far in the practice of pharmacy, in relationship to vaccinating, but unfortunately it occurred, in part, during the tragic pandemic that we just experienced. I am still apprehensive around drops of blood as that was the one reason that held me back from pursuing vaccinating in the first place.

It brings me great joy and satisfaction to vaccinate so many patients each year that I can push aside my unease with blood. I attempt to remember quirks like no bandaid for this kiddo, or right arm only due to breast cancer for that patient, or ones that need a hand to hold to make the experience not as scary; this creates a special connection with my community. My month of October is typically filled with 2 to 3 off-site clinics a week, along with my regular pharmacy workday, which is either behind the bench or at our corporate office. My vaccination goal each year is to break my own 1-day personal score from the year before, but the caveat is that it has to occur while working at the bench and cannot include off-site clinics. So far, I haven’t succeeded in toppling 72 vaccinations I did a few years ago during the height of the pandemic. My best day thus far in 2024, was 50 vaccinations, which was a combination of influenza with either COVID-19 or [respiratory syntactical virus].