We'd appreciate your feedback. Send feedback Subscribe to our newsletters and alerts


Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy

2025 Volume 5 Issue 1

Effectiveness of Pharmacy-Based Interventions in Enhancing Immunisation Coverage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis


, ,
  1. Department of Social Pharmacy and Public Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Immunisation Services, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Abstract

Low uptake of immunization services remains a major public health issue. Pharmacists serve as key facilitators and, more frequently, as vaccinators themselves. However, strong evidence regarding their effect on patient health outcomes and vaccination coverage remains limited.To assess the effect of pharmacist-led interventions on population-level vaccination rates.A systematic search was conducted in SCOPUS, PubMed, and Web of Science from database inception to April 2023 to identify both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials. Studies lacking a comparator group for pharmacist involvement were excluded. Two reviewers performed data extraction and risk-of-bias evaluations, and meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models.The review included 4 RCTs and 15 non-RCTs covering influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccines delivered in varied settings, including community pharmacies. Pooled analyses showed that pharmacist involvement, in any capacity, increased overall immunization uptake by up to 51% compared with usual care [RR 1.51 (1.28, 1.77)]. When pharmacists specifically functioned as advocates, immunization frequency more than doubled [RR 2.09 (1.42, 3.07)].Evidence concerning pharmacists acting directly as immunizers was inconsistent; nevertheless, their overall participation in immunization programs significantly raised public vaccination rates. Pharmacists demonstrated leadership and played essential advocacy roles in both community and hospital environments. Future studies should examine the intensity of pharmacist engagement and its impact on immunization coverage.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Eriksen K, Berg S, Dahl M. Effectiveness of Pharmacy-Based Interventions in Enhancing Immunisation Coverage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Pharm Educ Saf Public Health Advocacy. 2025;5(1):146-63. https://doi.org/10.51847/6thdSgTuTW
APA
Eriksen, K., Berg, S., & Dahl, M. (2025). Effectiveness of Pharmacy-Based Interventions in Enhancing Immunisation Coverage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy, 5(1), 146-163. https://doi.org/10.51847/6thdSgTuTW
Articles
TikTok’s Influence on Pharmacy Education: Enhancing Drug Information Mastery through Distance Learning
Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
Vol 2 Issue 1, 2022 | Bahar Graefen
Navigating Roles: How Specialist Physicians Perceive Their Leadership and Peer Positions in Interprofessional Healthcare Teams
Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025 | Anke Bueter
The Medical Education Research Landscape: Focus Areas and Key Scholars
Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025 | Javier A. Flores-Cohaila
Misconceptions and Facts: A Unique Investigation into COVID-19 Among Medical Students at a Rural University in Sindh
Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
Vol 1 Issue 1, 2021 | Aneela Atta Ur Rahman
Advancing Education through AI: The Role of ChatGPT as Virtual Tutors in the Future of Learning
Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
Vol 3 Issue 1, 2023 | Bahar Graefen
Enhancing Agitation Management Skills and Empathy in Healthcare Students through Virtual Reality–Based Experiential Learning
Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025 | Man Lin Huang

About SMER

Find out more