Ensuring Vaccine Safety: The Role of Pharmacists in Post-Immunization Follow-Up

Abstract

Immunization against infectious diseases has made invaluable contribution to global public health, preventing an estimated 2–3 million deaths each year. However, like any medical product, vaccines can be associated with potential adverse reactions following immunization, known as AEFI. Pharmacists around the world are increasingly involved with immunization services and have the potential to play an integral role in safeguarding vaccine safety through post-immunization follow-up. Pharmacy-based follow-up services not only improve vaccine safety surveillance but also promote vaccine confidence and adherence to immunization programs. The pharmacist’s role in safeguarding vaccine safety extends beyond the administration of a vaccine by educating patients and documenting immunization information following the provision of vaccine services (Pattison Rathbone et al., 2022) (Hassan Wada et al., 2021).