Cancer Patients Show Strong Confidence in Pharmacist-Delivered Vaccines Despite Low Vaccination Rates

Cancer (search)Search disease patients at a major Australian regional hospital demonstrated strong confidence in pharmacist-delivered vaccination services despite concerning gaps in immunization coverage, according to new research published in the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice. The cross-sectional survey of 107 patients undergoing or with a history of cancer treatment revealed that while vaccination rates remain suboptimal, patients show significant willingness to receive vaccines from pharmacists in oncology settings.

Vaccination Gaps Persist Despite High-Risk Status

The survey findings highlight a troubling disconnect between cancer (search)Search disease patients' elevated infection risks and their vaccination behaviors. Only 24 of 107 respondents (22.4%) had received a pneumococcal vaccineView drug details within the past five years, while 61 patients (55.1%) had received an influenza vaccineView drug details in the last year. These rates fall short of recommended guidelines despite cancer patients facing dramatically increased susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases.

The immunosuppressive effects of cancer (search)Search disease treatment create substantial vulnerability to respiratory pathogens. Research demonstrates that cancer patients contract invasive pneumococcal disease (search)Search disease at rates up to 503 cases per 100,000 persons, compared with just 8.8 cases per 100,000 in the general population. Studies have also shown cancer patients are more likely to experience influenza (search)Search disease or pneumonia (search)Search disease-attributed death compared with healthy individuals.

Strong Patient Acceptance of Pharmacist Services

Despite initial reservations about pharmacist recommendations, with only 55.1% of patients indicating willingness to accept vaccination advice from pharmacists, the survey revealed robust acceptance of pharmacist-administered vaccines. A substantial 86% of respondents expressed willingness to receive at least one vaccine from a pharmacist, while 61.7% would accept all vaccines administered by pharmacists during their cancer (search)Search disease treatment.

Patients generally maintained positive attitudes toward vaccination, with 69.2% willing to be vaccinated with little concern. Notably, only 5.5% of patients had previously been vaccinated at a hospital or public clinic, yet 80.4% indicated they would prefer to receive vaccinations at a hospital cancer (search)Search disease center.

The research identified a key insight: patients who exhibited high perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefit were more inclined to accept pharmacist-administered vaccines in the oncology unit. This suggests that educational efforts addressing disease risks could enhance acceptance of pharmacist-delivered immunization services.

Healthcare Professional Perspectives Support Expanded Role

Complementary qualitative research published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy examined healthcare professionals' views on pharmacist involvement in cancer (search)Search disease patient vaccination. Interviews with physicians, nurses, and pharmacists from oncology and hematology units consistently recognized pharmacists as knowledgeable and clinically capable of administering vaccines.

Healthcare professionals endorsed a more prominent role for pharmacists, particularly in outpatient settings, where they can educate patients, address vaccine hesitancy, and ensure accurate documentation. The absence of clearly defined responsibilities in oncology care has contributed to missed immunization opportunities, according to study participants.

Implementation Challenges Remain

While pharmacists expressed readiness to assume expanded vaccination responsibilities, significant barriers persist. Workload pressures emerged as a major implementation obstacle across interviews. Healthcare professionals consistently called for additional staffing, streamlined workflows, and institutional support to enable effective pharmacist-led vaccination programs.

Recommended strategies for successful implementation include involving key stakeholders in program development, investing in pharmacist resources, and offering incentives to sustain expanded vaccination efforts. Interprofessional communication was highlighted as essential for supporting care coordination and clarifying team roles.

Previous research has identified additional barriers facing pharmacists in vaccination delivery, including limited knowledge of vaccination guidelines, financial complications, lack of resources, and patient-related factors that complicate immunization efforts.

Clinical Implications for Oncology Care

The research findings suggest a significant opportunity to leverage pharmacist expertise in addressing vaccination gaps among cancer (search)Search disease patients. As cancer survival rates improve and patients live longer with their disease, ensuring adequate protection against vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases becomes increasingly critical.

Pharmacists' comprehensive knowledge of individual patients and their conditions positions them to evaluate vaccination feasibility and coordinate immunization timing. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated pharmacists' ability to quickly and effectively integrate into vaccination processes while serving as trusted sources for patient immunization concerns.

"A pharmacist-led vaccination service within outpatient oncology units may be a promising strategy to improve vaccination rates in this vulnerable patient cohort, given that the majority expressed a willingness to receive vaccines administered by pharmacists," the study authors concluded.

The research represents the first examination of patient perspectives on pharmacist involvement in vaccination services within oncology units, highlighting the need for expanded investigation into underlying factors influencing vaccination decisions among cancer (search)Search disease patients.