The symposium, which drew special attention to the need to immunize older adults against pneumococcal infections, was chaired by Army Lt. Col. John D. Grabenstein, MS Pharm., a doctoral student in pharmacoepidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He shared the podium with Josephine Bonasso, Pharm. D., of the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. Grabenstein, a passionate advocate for pharmacist-based immunization efforts, challenged attendees to become more aggressive in their efforts.
Vaccines are drugs, and pharmacists are responsible for drugs.
It is time we, as a profession, embrace that responsibility, Grabenstein told the nearly 200 attendees. The symposium, along with other immunization advocacy resources, will be the basis for an extensive continuing education monograph that will be published later this spring. Letters of intent must be received by the Foundation no later than March 1. Another component of the program is an Action Kit containing immunization advocacy tools and resources that can be adapted for any health system. The kit includes an implementation guide and vaccine protocol, a risk-assessment tool for adult patients, a patient brochure, related ASHP guideline documents, and other useful forms.