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Alyssa Modic, PharmD, explains how pharmacists can clarify pneumococcal vaccine schedules, manage co-administration decisions, and reframe vaccination conversations for patients.
In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Alyssa Modic, PharmD, senior clinical pharmacy specialist at UPMC Health Plan, discussed the pharmacist’s role in helping patients and providers navigate the evolving pneumococcal vaccine schedule, which depends on age, history, and risk factors.
Modic explained that pneumococcal, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines may be co-administered using separate syringes and injection sites, though patient-specific factors like preference, return visits, and risk of illness should guide decisions. Addressing vaccine fatigue, Modic encouraged pharmacists to acknowledge patient concerns, focus on preventing severe disease, and reframe the value of vaccination with relatable comparisons
Pharmacy Times: Switching gears to pneumococcal vaccines—what are some common points of confusion around the current vaccine schedule, and how can pharmacists help simplify this conversation for patients and providers?
Modic: There are numerous pneumococcal vaccines, and recommendations continue to evolve. Adult recommendations depend on age, pneumococcal vaccine history, and various risk factors. The CDC offers a great visual reference called “Vaccine Timing in Adults.” It outlines various scenarios based on age, vaccine history, and health conditions to help providers determine what is recommended for each individual patient.
Pharmacy Times: How do you approach pneumococcal vaccine recommendations in patients who are also eligible for RSV or COVID-19 vaccines, particularly when it comes to co-administration?
Modic: The RSV, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered. This should be considered if multiple visits may be difficult for a patient. If given during the same visit, separate syringes and injection sites should be used for each vaccine. Co-administration may lead to increased risk of common side effects like fever, headaches, and myalgias. It’s important to note that it is truly a patient-specific decision to administer at the same visit. Considerations include patient preference, their ability to return for additional visits, and their risk of acquiring the vaccine-preventable disease. It all comes down to having discussions with patients and finding what is best for them.
Pharmacy Times: Vaccine fatigue continues to be a concern—how can pharmacists reframe conversations around COVID-19, pneumococcal, and RSV vaccines to reinforce their value without overwhelming patients?
Modic: Be real with patients. Speak on their level and don’t lecture or talk down to them. Acknowledge their feelings of fatigue on the topic. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us a lot—it was a difficult time for many people, some more than others. Then focus on health, and on the importance of vaccination. COVID-19, pneumococcal, RSV, and flu vaccines are all about preventing severe disease. I always compare it to preventative maintenance—like changing the oil in your car. It’s annoying and repetitive, but important to keep the car running so you can go where you want to go. Take care of yourself so you can keep doing the things you want to do and not look back saying, "I wish I would have."
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