|
Each year, about 60,000 Americans die of pneumococcal disease and
20,000 Americans die of influenza. In general, for every child who dies
of a vaccine preventable disease, 400 adults die from the same diseases.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of immunizations in underprivileged
communities and in minorities such as African Americans. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Resources reports the national influenza
vaccination rates for African Americans, based on Medicare claims, are
one-half the rate for Caucasian beneficiaries. The majority of these
individuals visited a doctor, but failed to receive an immunization
vaccine.
Due to startling statistics like those mentioned above, the American
Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) and
the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) collaboratively
developed Operation Immunization: The Nation's Student Pharmacists and
Practitioners Protecting the Public Health in 1997. This was the
first service project of this magnitude in the history of APhA or
SNPhA. This program is an immunization awareness campaign designed to
increase the public's knowledge of immunizations while raising the
number of adults receiving immunizations. The campaign begins each fall
in 95 communities and culminates during American Pharmacists Month,
the month of October annually. Participants include the 95 APhA-ASP
chapters with the help of trained practitioners and other healthcare
professionals trained and certified to give immunizations. Pharmacists
have been recognized as the most accessible health professionals, with
the equivalent of the entire U.S. population (250 million people) who
visit a pharmacy every week. Thus, pharmacists and student pharmacists
have a major role to play in ensuring higher immunization rates, and in
decreasing vaccine-preventable disease.
Operation Immunization consists of a promotional campaign designed to
increase community awareness of immunization information and advise
patients where they can obtain the proper immunizations. This campaign
also promotes the implementation of immunization services in pharmacies.
There are currently 46 states that allow pharmacists to immunize
patients. Pharmacists in these states are then are approached by
APhA-ASP chapters to provide immunization services at their pharmacy.
Students and pharmacists are then encouraged to administer vaccinations
and provide educational material to their patients as part of this
campaign. In the states where pharmacists are not authorized to
administer immunizations, chapters create partnerships with physicians,
nurses and other healthcare professionals to administer immunizations in
a pharmacy. By having pharmacists administer immunizations or having the
immunizations administered in a pharmacy, there is hope to increase the
public's awareness of the important role both pharmacists and student
pharmacists can have on public health issues.
A planning guide is sent to each of the APhA-ASP chapters to help
them implement, manage and market an immunization advocacy campaign in
their local community. Included in the guide is a timeline that provides
a step by step approach on how to run the campaign and promotional
materials used for Operation Immunization. Student chapters then send in
a report of their activities to compete for Regional and National
awards. Each year, the national winner receives a cash prize and
presents their immunization program at the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention National Immunization Conference.
Through participation in this project, student pharmacists are
providing the pharmacy profession with an excellent resource in the
fight against the growing incidence, morbidity, and mortality associated
with vaccine preventable diseases.
For more information or questions, contact:
American Pharmacists Association
Attn: Student Development
2215 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037-2985
APhA-ASP@aphanet.org
|
