Barriers and enablers to pharmacists' involvement in a novel immunisation programme

AIM: Pharmacists are involved in immunisation programmes for a variety of diseases. However, some patient populations may be considered at high risk of complications from vaccination and are excluded from these programmes. The study aimed to explore pharmacists' roles in a vaccination programme to identify factors that influence their involvement. METHODS: Phenomenological qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted online with a convenience sample of pharmacists working in a COVID-19 vaccination centre in January and February 2021, by a single researcher. Recordings of the interviews were transcribed automatically, manually quality checked and thematically analysed using NVivo Version 1 by all authors. Data were repeatedly read to identify what pharmacists did and how they did it. RESULTS: Seventeen pharmacists were interviewed, and transcript analysis identified 1) What pharmacists did in the Vaccination Centre, 2) Barriers to involvement in the Vaccination Centre and 3) Enablers to being involved in the Vaccination Centre. Key findings indicate pharmacists adopted the roles of information counsellors, supporting patients with vaccine hesitancy, making autonomous prescribing decisions as well as documenting product administration and manipulation. Limited free time at work and desk-based roles for senior pharmacists were barriers to taking on a patient-facing role. National recognition of pharmacists' skills, access to information through official and unofficial networks and a sense of duty, or zeitgeist, enabled pharmacists' to be involved. DISCUSSION: Pharmacists can support immunisation for patients during pandemics if given appropriate autonomy and recognition. Further work is needed to explore how pharmacists may be recognised for their work and use information obtained through informal networks.