Best Practices in the Coadministration of Respiratory Vaccines

EP: 1.Important Background Information on RSV for Pharmacists

EP: 2.Pathophysiology and Complications Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

EP: 3.Exploring High-Risk Populations for RSV Complications

EP: 4.Implied Vaccine Burden and Associated Misinformation

EP: 5.Targeting Patients at Risk for Severe RSV Disease

EP: 6.Key Differences Between FDA-Approved RSV Vaccines

EP: 7.Ideal Patient Populations for RSV Vaccination

EP: 8.Pertinent Information for Shared Decision-Making

EP: 9.Additional Clinical Considerations for RSV Vaccination

EP: 10.Common Causes of RSV Vaccine Hesitancy

EP: 11.Building Trust With Vaccine-Hesitant Patients

EP: 12.Optimizing Multidisciplinary Care in RSV Vaccination Efforts

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EP: 13.Best Practices in the Coadministration of Respiratory Vaccines

EP: 14.Future Management Considerations of RSV

During the fall months, flu, COVID-19, and RSV are the primary respiratory viruses that high-risk populations need to consider for vaccination. Many patients feel hesitant about receiving multiple vaccines at once, often due to concerns about adverse effects or misinformation about coadministration. Educating patients is crucial to overcoming this hesitancy. The CDC clearly recommends administering multiple vaccines during the same visit and encourages it, as delaying vaccination leaves patients vulnerable to illness and increases the risk of spreading infections to others.

When patients express reluctance to get all recommended vaccines simultaneously, health care providers have an important role in emphasizing the benefits and addressing common adverse effects. For example, receiving vaccines in different arms may cause localized soreness, but this is generally short-lived and outweighed by the protection vaccines offer. Understanding patients’ motivations—such as avoiding missed work or protecting family members—can help tailor the conversation and encourage immediate vaccination rather than postponement.

It’s also important to recognize that some vaccines, like the RSV vaccine, are not strictly seasonal and can be administered year-round, even though the optimal timing is before the respiratory season. Pharmacists are encouraged to maximize coadministration opportunities while also being flexible about timing to ensure patients get protected whenever they come in. This approach helps prevent missed chances for vaccination and ensures that adults receive all necessary vaccines based on individual needs, rather than limiting administration to a narrow seasonal window.