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ToolsParkhurst, Caroline, Savickas, Vilius, Nguyen, Hanh, Marks, Emma, Sokhi, Jeremy and Desborough, James (2025) Evaluation of a community pharmacy-based seasonal influenza vaccination placement for third-year pharmacy undergraduates:Monash Pharmacy Education Symposium Abstracts 2024. Pharmacy Education, 25 (3). pp. 23-24. ISSN 1560-2214
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Abstract
Background: Seasonal influenza vaccinations in community pharmacies are commissioned by NHS England as an advanced service, aimed at improving healthcare access amongst at-risk individuals. This was an evaluation of a pharmacy undergraduate clinical placement in community pharmacies focused on administration of seasonal influenza vaccinations. Methods: The placement was delivered in 70 stores of a single community pharmacy chain in England, over five consecutive working days in November 2023. Eighty-one Year 3 pharmacy (MPharm) students attended placements after completing training to administer influenza vaccinations in line with national standards (1,2). Students maintained a log of vaccinations administered during the placement. Placement-evaluation questionnaires, consisting of five-point Likert-scale and open-ended questions, were completed by students and practice educators one week after the placement ended. Results: Seventy-nine students (98%) and 50 out of 70 practice educators (71%) completed placement-evaluation questionnaires. A total of 524 vaccinations (379 directly supervised) were administered by 71 (88%) students. The placement improved student confidence in administering vaccinations (44 (56%) and 64 (81%) agreed/strongly agreed pre-and post-placement, respectively). The experience furthered student understanding of pharmacists’ roles (65 (82%) agreement) and advanced a range of skills, particularly consultation and teamworking abilities (70 (89%) and 67 (85%) agreement, respectively). Most practice educators felt that students integrated well within the team and administered vaccinations safely and effectively (45 (90%) agreement each). Key areas requiring improvement included ensuring that all students were given opportunities to vaccinate, facilitating student engagement in other public health services and securing financial support for travel to remote placement locations. Conclusion: To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that pharmacy undergraduates can undergo rapid, nationally approved training to confidently deliver influenza vaccinations in community pharmacies, improving access for patients and reducing workload for pharmacy staff. Barriers such as financial sustainability should be addressed prior to widespread roll-out of similar placements.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Innovations in Pharmacy Education Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Patient Care Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Education Research & Practice |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Dec 2025 10:30 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Dec 2025 15:32 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101161 |
| DOI: | 10.46542/pe.2025.253.154 |
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