The role of the pharmacists in vaccination programs - a systematic review

ABSTRACT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists have proved their role as the most accessible medical professionals who have the potential and knowledge to participate in vaccination campaigns. The aim is to conduct a systematic review of the published articles that analyze the available evidence for the benefits of pharmacists' participation in vaccination. A systematic review was conducted in the scientific database PubMed. A total of 39 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis based on a screening of the identified 980 studies in the databases. The benefits are related to increasing the percentage of immunized people and preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases, better informing and motivating patients, positive impact on the level of immunization, helping to achieve the goals of immunization, improving population access to vaccines. The systematic review shows the essential role of the pharmacist in vaccination campaigns, as well as the benefits for the individual and for society as a whole.