Immunization/Vaccine Programs for Community Pharmacy

Embarking on a successful immunization program requires careful planning and execution. Pharmacists have been providing vaccines in their communities since 1996; 60-70% of adult vaccines are administered in pharmacies and during flu season and over 90% of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in pharmacies. When expanding your vaccine program in a community pharmacy, start by researching vaccination rates in your area. Survey patients, providers, and the community to gauge interest. Consider what vaccines you might add to your portfolio. Set achievable goals, like administering one additional vaccination per week. As demand grows, so will your reputation as a vaccine destination.

• SWOT Analysis: Conduct an analysis of your organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Identify where your organization can best help your community.
• Patient Forecasting: Conduct a review of your community demographics to determine what type of vaccines your pharmacy would be most successful with. You can be successful offering vaccines for School & Camps, Travel, Respiratory or year-round vaccines.
• Launch Timeline & Checklists: Develop a detailed timeline for the program launch including milestones and deadlines. Create checklists to ensure all steps are completed such as obtaining licenses, training staff, and procuring equipment.
• Licensing & Regulatory Requirements: Research and comply with state and federal regulations. Obtain necessary licenses and certifications for pharmacists and technicians to administer vaccines.
• Training & Education: Train pharmacy staff on vaccine administration techniques, storage, handling, and adverse event management. Educate staff about vaccine-preventable diseases, patient counseling, and documentation requirements.
• Workflow Development: Design a workflow for vaccine administration within your pharmacy. Allocate specific roles and responsibilities to staff members involved.
• Financial Modeling: Create a financial model to estimate costs, revenue, and potential profits from the vaccine program. Consider reimbursement rates, vaccine pricing, and operational expenses.
• Collaborations: Establish partnerships with local healthcare providers, clinics, and public health agencies to refer patients for vaccinations.
• Vaccine & Equipment Purchasing: Source vaccines from authorized suppliers and maintain proper storage conditions. Purchase any equipment necessary such as syringes, needles, sharps containers and refrigerators. Visit the IPC Vendor Vaccine Portal for ordering and additional resources
• Marketing: Develop marketing strategies to promote the vaccine program within the community. Use social media, flyers, and in-store displays to raise awareness and encourage participation.
• Appointment & Billing Solutions: Implement an appointment scheduling system for efficient vaccine administration. Make sure you and your staff are aware of your patients’ plan requirements for billing vaccinations, and how to properly bill them under the prescription benefit or medical benefit. Set a cash price that includes the administration of the vaccine for those that do not have insurance.
• Reporting: Establish a tracking system for doses administered, adverse events, and inventory levels. Provide reporting to immunization registries and know the specific requirements for your state.

For additional information on how to start an immunization program in your pharmacy, our partner NCPA has a wealth of information. Click Here to download the booklet for more.

IPC helps equip you with the tools necessary to understand the impact an immunization program will have on your pharmacy. The potential for both impact and growth on your pharmacy can be substantial. Imagine administering just six vaccines per day—each taking 15 minutes, that’s taking a pharmacist away from filling prescriptions for 90 minutes per day. IPC will help understand this impact and adjust your pharmacy’s workflow.

• Immunizer Status and Education: IPC helps you navigate the process of obtaining immunizer status. We provide resources and support to ensure your team finds the correct training programs and stays up to date on vaccination protocols.
  • Immunization Certificate Training Programs
  • Pharmacy Tech Training Programs through PRS
• Provider Enrollment: To bill Medicare and Medicaid, IPC can help guide you in applying for a Medicare number. Becoming a provider opens doors to reimbursement for your vaccination services.
  • To register for your National Provider Identifier (NPI) fill out this form. For additional information visit the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System.
  • To register for a Medicare PTAN number, visit cms.gov. Once registered you will receive your number.
• Infrastructure Readiness: Proper refrigeration facilities are essential for vaccine storage. IPC advises on best practices to keep the integrity of vaccines.
• Billing Strategies: Whether it’s commercial insurance or Medicare, IPC helps you identify an efficient billing process.
• Marketing Your Services: IPC offers insights to promote your immunization program and can help to identify the proper resources to get your name out in the community.
• Workflow Optimization: IPC understands the workflow challenges. A dedicated area for vaccinations must be created, our experts can help ensure smooth integration into your daily operations.