STC (Scientific Technologies Corporation), a leader in immunization intelligence
We all know about information being power, and we now know the horsepower of the information available in a state immunization registry: a 40% increase in additional vaccinations given at the time of flu shots.
The lead author of the new study, Ben Bluml of the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, said of the results,
“The current industry data says that an additional 1-2% of vaccinations occur at the point of a flu shot. So think about that – if you doubled that level and went from 2-4%, you’d have accomplished something. You’d be delighted. But we went from 2% to 40% — a 20-fold increase!”
When customer-patients asked for a flu shot, the pharmacist checked with the state Immunization Information System (IIS), using STC’s ImmsLink data, to identify additional vaccination needs. A total of 1,080 patients were included in the study. Of those, the pharmacists found 1,334 eligible vaccinations were due, and 447 were given during the course of the study, nearly all (just over 95%) administered by the pharmacist at the point of that initial flu shot. That’s a 41.4% increase in the number of vaccinations over the flu shots alone.
Dr. Scott Hamstra, a study co-author, put the research in the broader context of adult vaccinations:
“We got to the point where we were doing pretty well with children’s vaccines and then we woke up to the fact that adults are at risk, too. We’re at a mind-shift, where pharmacists will be the front-line vaccinators for adults. Most people between 20 and 60 are not going to the doctor’s office. Plus, come Fall, when it’s time for flu shots, there’s no way to run all those people through the doctor’s office. Pharmacists are more accessible, more convenient and less expensive. We now know that if we deliver to them the Registry information they need, they will deliver on additional vaccinations.”
About STChealth
STChealth’s mission is to eradicate vaccine preventable disease and empower individuals through our innovative technology and service solutions. We deliver on our mission through passion and innovation, through teamwork and inclusion, through superior client service and products, and a relentless pursuit of the next ”big idea” that will advance immunization intelligence. Starting with developing the first Immunization Information System (IIS) and over 35 years of experience in the immunization ecosystem, STChealth is positioned today to support more than 1/3 of COVID-19 vaccinations reported in the U.S. through our network of over 70,000 Providers and Pharmacy Partners. More information can be found at www.STChealth.com
