Extensive Analysis of Pharmacists’ Roles and Services towards Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Vaccines can stimulate the body's immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. Pharmacists and other healthcare givers play vital roles in vaccine administration, screening, and counseling of patients.
Objectives: The study was aimed to evaluate the contributions, obstacles, and limitations to pharmacy-based immunization services; and vaccine-preventable disease.
Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was employed in the study. A sample of 105 Pharmacists who were working in Bayelsa state, using the convenience sampling technique were enrolled in the study.
Results: Almost all respondents were aware of immunization. Lack of financial compensation workload of Pharmacists, no support from other healthcare providers, and absence of supportive laws for Pharmacists to administer vaccines, patients’ non-compliance, unease access to vaccines, and inadequate cold chain system was seen as barriers to Pharmacy-based immunization despite their willingness to contribute towards vaccination. Pharmacists can participate more in immunization programs to help prevent actual and potential immunologic reactions and promote adherence to scheduled vaccination programs.
Conclusion: Adequate incentive and incorporation of immunization into Pharmacy education especially during internship periods for the young graduates to appreciate and possibly participate in these activities would ultimately improve the quality of life.
Copyright (c) 2021 RADS Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Submitting a manuscript to a journal implies that the work has not previously been published in any other journal, printed or online (save as an abstract or an academic thesis), and that it is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere.
