A comparison of national immunization rates to immunization rates of L atino diabetic patients receiving clinical pharmacist interventions in a federally qualified community health centre ( FQHC )

Objectives To compare national immunization rates to immunization rates of L atino patients receiving clinical pharmacist interventions in a federally qualified community health centre ( FQHC ) in 2010. Methods This is a retrospective electronic medical record ( EMR ) review conducted in an FQHC in E l P aso, Texas. Adults (≥18) with diabetes who were seen by a clinical pharmacist between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010 were queried on the basis of 2010 vaccination criteria for the following vaccines: hepatitis A ( HepA ), hepatitis B , influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus‐diphtheria‐acellular pertussis ( T dap) and zoster. Each patient's EMR was reviewed to calculate immunization rates. Study immunization rates ( SIRs ), overall national immunization rates ( OIRs ) and national Hispanic immunization rates ( HIRs ) were compared using z ‐tests for proportions. The SIRs for each vaccine were calculated using the following formula: number of patients vaccinated/number of eligible patients. OIRs and HIRs were obtained from the 2010 N ational H ealth I nterview S urvey. Key findings Patients ( n  = 330) were 56.1 ± 12.7 years, primarily women (73.9%) and L atinos (96.7%). SIRs of HepA (33.3%), pneumococcal‐ages 19–64 (46.2%) and Tdap (42.7%) were significantly ( P  < 0.0001) higher when compared with both HIRs (10.3%, 14.8%, 4.8% respectively) and OIRs (10.7%, 18.5%, 8.2% respectively). Regarding zoster, the SIR (10.0%) was significantly ( P  < 0.05) higher than the HIR (4.4%) but not significantly different from the OIR (14.4%). Conclusion Clinical pharmacists can play a significant role in increasing adult vaccination rates. Providing access to vaccines and health education for patients have become more important with the growing needs of a culturally diverse and ageing population.