APhA-ASP Operation Immunization
Recognizing the need for education and increased opportunities to receive immunizations, the American
Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) and the Student National
Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) collaboratively developed Operation Immunization. This was the first
service project of this magnitude in the history of APhA or SNPhA. This program is an immunization
education campaign designed to increase the public's knowledge of immunizations while raising the number
of adults and children receiving immunizations. Participants include all of the APhA-ASP chapters with
the help of trained practitioners and other healthcare professionals trained and certified to give
immunizations.
While Operation Immunization is designed to benefit the public, your college campus is a great place to
begin raising immunization rates and increasing awareness. Currently, the American College of Physicians
recommends that annual influenza vaccine should be required for every healthcare worker with direct
patient activities. These vaccines can effectively be given throughout the year and will prevent more
than 50,000 deaths alone. APhA-ASP encourages participants to continually increase community awareness
of immunization information and advise patients on where they can obtain the proper immunizations
year-round.
Operation Immunization National Liaison: Ralph Januale (ralphjan@buffalo.edu)
Program Results
Operation Immunization was launched as an official APhA-ASP National Patient Care project in 1997. Since
that time, over 1.4 million individuals have an immunization through the Operation Immunization
campaign. The 2024-2025 campaign had the following results:
- 114 chapters participated
- 10,518 student pharmacists participated
- 608 faculty and staff members participated
- 501 pharmacists participated
- 72,396 patients immunized
- 13,391 patients immunized for COVID-19
- 53,140 patients immunized for influenza
- 25,366 patients received health and wellness services
- 1,191,345 individuals reached through public relations initiatives
Online Resources
Operation Immunization Award Report & Recognition
APhA-ASP recognizes each chapter that implements an Operation Immunization program in their community.
One Chapter from each of the eight APhA-ASP regions are recognized during Mid-Year Regional Meetings. In
addition, the eight regional winners, along with one national winner, and two national runners-up are
recognized during the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition at the APhA-ASP Opening General Session and
in Student Pharmacist magazine.