Kimberly C. McKeirnan, PharmD, BCACP

Pharmacists who immunize must ensure their knowledge about routine vaccinations for adults and children is up-to-date by reviewing the changes to the immunization schedule each year.

Vaccine-related updates seem to be made on a weekly basis and keeping up to date on recommendations can be difficult.

With many people remaining to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and everyone 6 months and older needing an annual influenza vaccine for the 2021-2022 season, many pharmacies are turning to pharmacy technicians to assist in the process.

At the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' June 2020 meeting, the agenda included discussions of the meningococcal vaccine, influenza vaccine, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19).

To combat influenza, widespread vaccination efforts by health care providers must be combined with a targeted and effective annual influenza vaccine.

Despite widespread efforts to educate people about the importance of vaccinations, vaccine-preventable diseases continue to negatively impact the health of the US population.

A review of influenza (flu) vaccine effectiveness during the 2018-2019 flu season and recommendations of vaccines for the 2019-2020 flu season are discussed below.

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