Effect of text message communication on patient presentation for an influenza vaccination in a community-based pharmacy setting

BACKGROUND: Community pharmacies use text message communications for information regarding approaching refills and fill status. Patients can also be notified regarding annual influenza vaccine availability and schedule an appointment for the vaccine. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate whether text message communications affected patient presentation and resulted in a percent increase of patients receiving an influenza vaccine compared with previous vaccine season and to determine whether additional vaccines are administered upon presentation. METHODS: Ambidirectional study retrospectively analyzed the impact, nationally, of a new text message communication on influenza vaccinations at a large community pharmacy chain and prospectively surveyed patients receiving an influenza vaccine at 2 geographically similar pharmacies of the chain in Southwest Virginia. Text message communications regarding vaccine and appointment availability were sent to patients at the age of 18 years and older who opted in to text message communications and received an influenza vaccine with the chain during the 2019-2020 influenza season. Vaccine data from consecutive seasons were compared. Eligible patients in Southwest Virginia were surveyed about how they were informed about availability, previous intent to receive an influenza vaccine, applicability to other vaccines, and effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on vaccination. Results were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Nationally, influenza vaccines administered increased by 17.45% in patients who permitted text message communication and overall by 13.22% after implementation. Decreases in co-administered pneumococcal vaccines and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines and an increase in co-administered zoster vaccines were observed. A total of 111 patients were surveyed; 4% presented owing to text message communication. A majority were intent on receiving the vaccine before being notified and reported that the pandemic did not affect presentation. Notably, 45.05% of patients were likely to receive routine vaccines if notified by text message. CONCLUSION: Text message communications are another viable way to increase vaccinations, but further studies should be conducted outside of a pandemic setting.