Transforming Vaccination Globally and Regionally: In Review
The “Transforming Vaccination Globally and Regionally” programme consisted of a three-part series of 8 online events, culminating in the signing of a historical commitment to transform vaccinations globally and regionally through workforce enablement by FIP and member organisations. This commitment sought to address anti-science and misinformation and address hesitancy. The commitments also extended to incorporate vaccination qualifications into pharmacist workforce education, from undergraduate to continuing development, in order to ensure all pharmacists in all settings are capable of delivering vaccinations as a standard part of pharmacist practice.
Series 1 events focused on identifying the needs of the pharmacist and pharmaceutical scientist workforce to deliver on vaccination transformation.
Series 2 events discussed the actions required to deliver on the needs identified in series 1, aligned to the FIP Development Goals.
Series 3 focused on FIP member organizations across 6 regions, and how they have addressed or will address these actions to deliver on the commitment to transform vaccines globally and regionally.
Series 1 summary: Identifying transformation needs
Series 1 involved 8 events that looked at the identification of needs to transform vaccination globally and regionally for science, practice, workforce, and education. This involved identifying the needs of the pharmacist and pharmaceutical scientist workforce to deliver on vaccination transformation globally and regionally.
The first event was significantly held on World Pharmacist Day 2020 (#WPD2020) which gave the opening event a profile and impact. The series looked at strategy and policy for global change, empowering pharmacists and addressing barriers, vaccine development and innovation as well as addressing barriers to uptake, adherence, misinformation and anti-Science in the so-called infodemic. The issue of supporting workforce transformation and evolving the pharmacist qualification was explored with various representatives from member organisations globally sharing their insights and experiences to help challenge and progress pharmacist vaccination globally and regionally.
Speakers presented at round tables, at panel discussions and in webinars to share their insights into the priority areas to transform vaccination globally and regionally.
The clear and pressing needs of science, practice and workforce and education were identified which led into series 2.
Episode 1.1 is entitled Introducing the FIP ‘Transforming Vaccination Globally & Regionally’ series Programme… needs, action and outcomes.
Guest panellists addressed the changes needed in workforce, professional practice, and pharmaceutical science to achieve global and regional transformation in vaccination delivery; strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy and anti-science misinformation about vaccines; the context of the pandemic in current vaccine delivery and transforming vaccine delivery; and how vaccination transformation aligns with the FIP Workforce Development Goals.
This episode set the stage for the entire programme, outlining the discussions in Episodes 2 to 8 of series 1, as well the themes for Series 2: Actions Required to Achieve Vaccination Transformation; and Series 3: Vaccination Transformation in 6 FIP Regions
Episode 1.2 is entitled Transforming practice: A focus on strategy & policy for global change.
Guest panellists addressed the strategy required to deliver changes in policy, both at a workforce level and at a regulatory level, to deliver on the promise of pharmacist participation in vaccination services.
Episode 1.3 is entitled Enabling practice: Empowering pharmacists & removing barriers.
Guest panellists with expertise in workforce up skilling discussed the barriers to pharmacists delivering transformation of vaccination; access to facilities needed in practice to deliver vaccination; regulatory barriers to vaccination by pharmacists; and addressing stakeholder resistance to change. This episode outlines the process of getting Pharmacists from the NOW of current practice to the VISION of pharmacist practice that will deliver on the commitment to transforming vaccinations.
The discussion considered the practice needs of pharmacists in all settings; insights from an operational level in delivering vaccination services where they have not been offered before; understanding what good pharmacist vaccination practice looks like; and considerations of space utilization, storage, and logistics to support pharmacist vaccinations.
Episode 1.4 is entitled Addressing barriers to uptake: Adherence, Misinformation, & Anti-Science.
Guest panellists with expertise in pharmaceutical sciences discussed the science of vaccination; new developments in vaccination delivery; the state of COVID vaccine research; medicine adherence with a focus on vaccine hesitancy; and the impact of misinformation and anti-science on the uptake of life-saving vaccination programmes.
This episode features interviews with scientists and vaccination experts Colin Pouton, Professor of Pharmaceutical Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Australia) and Nikolai Petrovsky, Founder and CEO, Vaxine (Australia). Interviews were conducted by Chair of FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Science Ross McKinnon and hosted by FIP CEO Catherine Duggan.
Episode 1.5 is entitled From smallpox to COVID-19: Vaccine development & innovation.
Guest panellists with expertise in pharmaceutical sciences discussed the history and the future of vaccination; how vaccines are developed; the difficulties in developing vaccines for emerging diseases; and the impact this has on the ability to deliver new vaccines to populations in a timely manner. Panellists discussed current research and where this is heading in the near future; recent developments in vaccine production & logistics; and how COVID has impacted on vaccine delivery and uptake worldwide.
The event featured a special segment with Ronald T. Piervincenzi, CEO, United States Pharmacopeia (USP), USA. In addition, FIP CEO Catherine Duggan led a discussion with Ross McKinnon and Giovanni Pauletti – (FIP Scientific Secretary, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, USA) to identify key take-aways & needs to transform vaccination through pharmaceutical sciences and what FIP can do to progress this journey.
Episode 1.6 is entitled Transforming our workforce: Evolving the pharmacist’s qualification.
Guest panellists with expertise in education and workforce development discussed the integration of vaccination content into undergraduate courses so that every graduate pharmacist is able to vaccinate from day 1 of practice.
Discussions focused on course development and accreditation; considerations for regulation around provision of vaccinations by graduating pharmacists; and the infrastructure needed within the existing workforce to deliver experiential contact for graduating pharmacists.
Episode 1.7 is entitled Enabling our workforce: Supporting ongoing competence.
Guest panellists with expertise in education and workforce development discussed the delivery of vaccination qualifications to pharmacist to ensure that pharmacists in all settings are able to provide vaccinations.
Discussions included the types of professional development available for pharmacists; practical administration skills; strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy; logistics needed to support vaccine services; and regulatory barriers to pharmacist vaccination.
Episode 1.8 is entitled Reviewing the FIP Transforming Vaccination Programme: Enabling and supporting our profession.
This roundtable discussion re-examined the issues from this series so far. Panellists discussed their key insights from each episode, and the path forward to achieve transformation of vaccination globally and regionally.
Series 2 summary: Setting transformative goals
The second series in the programme consisted of 8 events that focused on the FIP Development Goals from the perspective of vaccination to identify actions to transform vaccination globally and regionally.
This series looked at the FIP Development Goals, as 17 of these goals are linked to vaccination. The FIP DGs that were discussed include: FIP DG 10 equity and equality; FIP DG18 Access to Medicines & Services focusing on access to vaccination by all to improve health globally; FIP DG 13 Policy Development; FIP DG 19 Patient Safety; FIP DG 4 Advanced & Specialist Development, FIP DG 7 Advancing Integrated Services, FIP DG 16 Communicable Diseases; and FIP DG 17 Antimicrobial Stewardship.
Series 2 of the Transforming Vaccination Globally and Regionally Programme was about Action. We took the needs that were identified in series 1 and discussed the Actions that we need to take to address the FIP Development Goals.
Attendees discussed the mechanisms and drivers that will progress the FIP Development Goals in the context of transforming vaccination in pharmacy; addressing training requirements, policy development, evolution of existing health systems, equity & access to health resources, patient safety, and medicines stewardship principle
Episode 2.1 is titled Vaccination from Specialist Practice to Every Day Practice, and is aligned with FIP Development Goal 4: Advanced & Specialist Development.
Attendees discussed the processes required to take vaccination by pharmacists from a specialized field that few pharmacists deliver in some jurisdictions, to a standard part of pharmacists’ care in all settings and locations.
Attendees also discussed the pioneering work that has been made in countries around the world where vaccinations are provided by pharmacists, how this was achieved, and what steps need to be taken to normalise pharmacists as vaccinators.
Episode 2.2 is titled Empowering Pharmacists to Deliver Vaccination at the Health-System Level, and is aligned with FIP Development Goal 7: Advancing Integrated Services.
Attendees discussed change management principles in the context of integrating advanced practice services into every day practice, ensuring that vaccination by pharmacists in all settings and jurisdictions is consistent with best evidence and practice guidelines.
Where a pharmacist is present in all settings, vaccinations can be provided. Ensuring collaborative work and shared documentation with all healthcare professionals to ensure it is an integrated service
Episode 2.3 is titled Removing Policy Barriers to Pharmacist Vaccinations, and is aligned with FIP Development Goal 13: Policy Development
Attendees discussed the process of policy development, identification of barriers, and engagement with stakeholders to ensure that pharmacist vaccination is accessible to all people in all settings where pharmacists work.
Episode 2.4 is titled Pharmacist Vaccinators and Communicable Disease Management, and is aligned with FIP Development Goal 16: Communicable Diseases
During this event, Catherine Duggan interviewed Dr Michael Klepser about communicable diseases from the perspective of vaccination by a pharmacist, including the role of vaccination in the prevention and suppression of communicable and vector-borne disease, and the promise of addressing these diseases that pharmacist vaccinators will deliver.
Episode 2.5 is titled Pharmacist Vaccinators and Antimicrobial Stewardship and is aligned with FIP Development Goal 17: Antimicrobial Stewardship
Attendees discussed the role of vaccination in antimicrobial stewardship, preserving antimicrobial effectiveness, preventing antimicrobial resistance, and the promise of addressing these issues that pharmacists vaccinators will deliver.
Episode 2.6 is titled The Role of Pharmacist Vaccinators in Improving Access to and Equity in Healthcare Outcomes and is aligned with FIP Development Goal 18: Access to Medicines and Services and FIP Development Goal 10: Equity and Equality
Attendees discussed the role of pharmacists in ensuring that vaccinations are widely and easily accessible by all people in all areas of the world, and the expertise of pharmacists in delivering the logistics and services needed to increase vaccination rates.
The session was moderated by Catherine Duggan ( CEO – FIP, UK). Speakers included Jane Barratt – (Secretary General – International Federation on Ageing, Canada) and Alexandra (Ali) Ruth – (Doctoral Student – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA).
Episode 2.7 is titled Pharmacist Vaccinators and Patient Safety and is aligned with FIP Development Goal 19: Patient Safety
Attendees discussed the role of pharmacists in delivering safe vaccinations; participation in vaccination monitoring and adverse event reporting, and the role of improving vaccination rates as a method of reducing overall harm caused by preventable disease.
Episode 2.8 is titled Setting Transformative Goals for Vaccination Globally
It is a summary event that brings together the topics and issues discussed throughout Series 2, how they meet the needs raised in Series 1, and how this sets the stage for Series 3, where we examined the context Transforming Vaccinations Globally and Regionally within 6 global regions.
All of the Series 2 events are still available to view at the transforming vaccination website, and we hope you are inspired to visit the site and watch these videos as a first step to transforming vaccination in your practice, and – with FIP – transforming vaccination globally and regionally
Concrete mechanisms were identified to transform vaccination globally and regionally. The tools and structures to enable nations and regions to achieve global transformation of vaccination were shared in these events which leads into Series 3.
Series 3 summary: Committing to transformation
Series 3 looks at regional engagement to enable a roadmap to be developed for each region and indicators and country level metrics to develop and monitor progress through data collection in the transformation of vaccination globally and regionally. Needs assessments will be able to be done to develop action plans for each region and institution as well as toolkits for needs assessments to aid the transformation of vaccination globally and regionally. With a compilation of best practice from countries to aid other countries in their progress towards pharmacist vaccination.
Discussions focussed on the progress made in each of the 6 world regions with regards to pharmacist vaccination, the quality and universal access to vaccinations, barriers and challenges facing countries and the regional needs for future transformation. In each regional event, countries were able to share resources and interventions adapted to expand the pharmacist role in vaccination.
Series 3 shared lessons learned from different countries in the region that achieved a transformation and can help to drive change in the enforcement of the greater role of pharmacists in the most important key areas of health care, vaccination.
Episode 3.1 looked at Regional Needs and Drivers for Transforming Vaccination in Europe.
This event showcased country examples such as Belgium, France, Malta, Turkey among many others – in addition to understanding the perspectives of regional organisations including Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) , European Healthcare Distribution Association (GIRP).
Esteemed guest, the technical officer from WHO Regional Office for Europe Dr Niyazi Cakmak attended, and expressed support to the agenda on vaccination in pharmacy. Dr. Niyazi noted that “[The provision of vaccination services] should not be considered in terms of public or private sector perspective. The major driving issue is public service. In that sense, pharmacies provide a public health service. That is how the community pharmacy concept is built on.”
Episode 3.2 looked at Regional needs and drivers for transforming vaccination: South East Asia.
This event showcased examples from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal. Esteemed guest, the Regional Advisor from the WHO Regional Office for SEA, Manisha Shridhar attended and presented on the Role of Pharmacy Professionals in Vaccination for the COVID19 context and expressed strong support for the role of pharmacy and offered strategic recommendations to support the agenda on vaccination in pharmacy.
Episode 3.3 looked at Regional needs and drivers for transforming vaccination: Eastern Mediterranean.
This event showcased examples from Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan and Yemen.
Esteemed guest, the Technical Officer from the WHO Regional Office for EMR, Adi Nuseirat expressed strong support towards enabling other agenda on vaccination in pharmacy and mentioned that Pharmacists role as HCP expands to include building public awareness, counselling and administration of vaccines.
Episode 3.4 looked at Regional needs and drivers for transforming vaccination: Western Pacific.
This event showcased examples from Philippines, Australia and Hong Kong.
Episode 3.5 looked at Regional needs and drivers for transforming vaccination: Africa.
This event showcased examples from Cameroon, Ghana, Algeria and Kenya.
Episode 3.6 looked at Regional needs and drivers for transforming vaccination: Americas.
This event showcased examples from Panama, Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
Episode 3.7 – a roundtable event – is entitled From regional to global: Common priorities for action to transform vaccination
This roundtable event dissected priorities, needs and barriers across the world’s six regions. Moderators from the six regional discussed common priorities for action to transform vaccination.
Episode 3.8 is the finale event of the programme and was the FIP Global Virtual Summit: Committing to action to transform vaccination in pharmacy.
The global virtual Summit is a high-level event that recapped the primary outcomes of the 24-event digital series. It also provided the forum for the launch of the FIP Commitment to Action on Vaccination in Pharmacy. Global leaders from health and pharmacy join this landmark event.
