An expert has highlighted the crucial role pharmacists play in ensuring patients receive timely access to travel vaccines that may not be available at local pharmacies. Jeffery Goad, PharmD, MPH, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, explains that when patients need specific vaccines, such as yellow fever or high-dose rabies, pharmacists follow structured referral pathways and communication protocols to direct them to specialized travel clinics or healthcare providers that stock these vaccines.
A critical aspect of this process is the secure transfer of vaccination records back to the patient’s original pharmacy. This transfer may occur through faxed documentation, integration with electronic health records, or by providing clear instructions for patients to return their vaccination documentation. Such measures enable pharmacies to maintain comprehensive immunization records for their patients.
Pharmacies are encouraged to take proactive approaches to ensure that patients receive their travel vaccines well in advance of their trips. This involves facilitating early patient engagement and offering thorough scheduling to maximize the effectiveness of the vaccine. Patients are advised to book a pretravel consultation at least six weeks before their departure to allow sufficient time for multi-dose vaccine series and the development of immune response.
To optimize scheduling, pharmacists use the patient’s departure date as a critical deadline, planning all necessary doses backward. Should patients seek vaccines close to their travel date, pharmacists are urged to conduct quick risk assessments and provide informed counseling. Their focus shifts to administering any possible doses, even if they may not be optimally timed, while clearly explaining the limitations of the vaccine’s effectiveness by the time of departure.
This careful coordination and commitment from pharmacists not only facilitate patient health but also enhance overall public safety by ensuring that travelers are protected against prevalent infectious diseases.