Recognizing Immunizing Pharmacists in the Community

October is American Pharmacists Month, and it is the perfect time to recognize pharmacists administering immunizations and providing education in the community. During the 2023-2024 respiratory season, pharmacies were the most common place adults received influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.¹ Immunizations are also a vital component of medication therapy management (MTM) to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases, such as influenza and pneumonia.² Pharmacy Times interviewed 7 pharmacists who are game changers in the community through providing immunizations at their MTM practice.

MTM Spotlight

Marianne George, PharmD, is a pharmacy team leader for Giant Eagle in North Royalton, Ohio. George administers a variety of vaccines, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), typhoid, influenza, COVID-19, and rabies.

“The best way to encourage patients to receive recommended vaccines is to utilize an established relationship. I make myself accessible to patients for their other health care concerns, such as prescription and OTC medication recommendations. Then, when it comes time to recommend a vaccine, my patients see me as an ally in their health care journey. I like to share the story of when my dad used to drive 6 hours to see me for his annual influenza vaccine when I lived in another state,” George said.

Charity Reid, PharmD, is a pharmacy manager at Costco Wholesale in Suffolk, Virginia, and the most common vaccines she administers include influenza, herpes zoster, COVID-19, polio, MMR, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), and yellow fever.

“I think the most important aspect of encouraging patients to get vaccinated is to have a conversation with them. If a patient expresses interest in the vaccines during a conversation, I often try to persuade them by speaking to the fact [that] they are already at the pharmacy. When patients know and feel you care, it makes a world of difference in building trust. I find trust is often the encouragement patients need to get scheduled vaccinations,” Reid said.

Angela Orr, RPh, is a pharmacist at Hannaford in Portland, Maine, and the previous owner of 2 independent pharmacies. Orr has been administering vaccines for more than 15 years. Common immunizations include RSV, influenza, COVID-19, herpes zoster, Tdap, and pneumonia vaccines.

Orr’s best advice for pharmacists is to be proactive and reach out to the patient when they are due for vaccines. To overcome vaccine hesitancy, Orr discusses the risks of contracting the disease.

Jessica Sovyrda, PharmD, is a pharmacy manager and district scheduler at Stop & Shop in Windsor, Connecticut. Influenza, COVID-19, Tdap, herpes zoster, and pneumococcal are the top vaccines Sovyrda administers.

“I emphasize that vaccines are safe and effective, and [that adverse] effects are mostly mild and temporary. [Vaccines] protect against preventable diseases and reduce chances of being hospitalized, especially for those at higher risk,” Sovyrda said. “I utilize our state immunization registry and work with health care providers to ensure their history is up to date. I also work closely with assisted-living facilities and businesses to coordinate off-site immunization clinics.”

Charlene M. Daumke, BSPharm, RPh, is a pharmacy manager at Walgreens in Port St Lucie, Florida. Daumke is also a Florida SHOTS administrator, American Pharmacists Association faculty immunization trainer, and yellow fever–certified immunizer. Influenza, RSV, COVID-19, Tdap, and MMR are common vaccines Daumke administers. Additionally, she administers travel vaccines such as yellow fever, typhoid, and preexposure rabies.

“Vaccines remain the safest and most effective way to protect against the diseases they target. They help patients reduce the risk of severe complications and hospitalization. It is important to plan ahead to make sure you are protected, [as] maximal immunity takes a couple of weeks,” Daumke said.

Denise B. Hayes, MS, RPh, is a pharmacy co-owner and pharmacistin-charge at The Apothecary at St James in Southport, North Carolina. Hayes encourages her patients to receive vaccines to protect them and the community.

“This will help to prevent serious illness, hospitalizations, and life-threatening situations. I emphasize the safety, importance, and effectiveness of vaccines, and [I] review the testing and monitoring involved,” Hayes said. Promoting immunizations through social media, magazine articles, and vaccine clinics are part of Hayes’ communication strategy for vaccine education.

Angela Godfrey, PharmD, is a pharmacist at Walgreens in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Influenza, COVID-19, herpes zoster, RSV, MMR, and Tdap are common vaccines Godfrey administers. She shared her counseling points:

“Vaccines help prevent serious illness. Many vaccine-preventable diseases can lead to complications, hospitalization, or long-term health issues. Staying up to date protects not only you but [also] vulnerable members of your community. Vaccines are part of preventive care. Just like annual checkups and screenings, vaccines are a key part of staying well. They are a proactive step you can take to maintain your health as you age,” Godfrey said.

REFERENCES

1. Lu PJ, Srivastav A, Hung MC, et al. National and state-specific estimates of settings where adults received influenza, updated COVID-19, and RSV vaccinations, 2023-2024 respiratory virus season, United States. CDC. Updated June 10, 2024. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/nationalstate-vaccination-estimates.html

2. de Oliveira DR, Brummel AR, Miller DB. Medication therapy management: 10 years of experience in a large integrated health care system. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2020;26(9):1057-1066. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2020.26.9.1057