Understanding the Implications of Vaccinations for Elderly Adults: Role of the Pharmacist

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Sanofi Pasteur U.S.This activity is jointly sponsored by Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

Understanding the Implications of Vaccinations for Elderly Adults: Role of the Pharmacist

Faculty:Rupal Mansukhani, PharmD

Clinical Associate Professor

Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Piscataway, New Jersey

Clinical Pharmacist

Morristown Medical Center

Morristown, New Jersey

Activity Overview

Adults aged 65 years and older are especially vulnerable to complications associated with influenza, yet vaccination rates remain well below national health goals. This program will focus on the pharmacist’s role in administering and increasing awareness of the annual influenza vaccination for older adults. Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be highlighted for the current influenza season. Various types of FDA-approved vaccines will be highlighted and ways to optimize immunization efforts will be discussed.

Educational Objectives

• At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
• Explain the medical complications of influenza in older adult populations
• Compare standard and newer formulations of influenza vaccines, including high-dose and adjuvanted formulations, to better individualize vaccination for older adults at risk for influenza
• Employ the recommendations for the influenza vaccine to optimize immunization efforts and decrease the cost burden of influenza and its complications

Target Audience: Retail, community, independent, and health-system pharmacists, and other pharmacists who can vaccinate patients susceptible to the influenza virus

Activity Type: Application

Release Date: December 15, 2017

Expration Date: January 15, 2019

Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 2.0 Hours

Fee: This lesson is offered for free at pharmacytimes.org

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 2.0 contact hours (0.20 CEUs) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-17-187-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through January 15, 2019.