Programme:
| 08:00 – 08:05 | Introduction by the chairs |
| 08:05 – 08:25 | MOWE-0401 – Development of pharmaceutical immunisation services in community pharmacies: A case study from Costa Rica |
| Dr Sofía Segura |
Overview
MOWE-0401 – Development of pharmaceutical immunisation services in community pharmacies: A case study from Costa Rica
Dr Sofía Segura
Immunisation is a fundamental strategy to prevent disease, disability and mortality across all age groups. Pharmacies serve as accessible healthcare facilities, offering a key opportunity to strengthen vaccination programmes. However, Costa Rica faces challenges in immunisation, including misconceptions, lack of knowledge about vaccines, and the selective administration of immunisations to at-risk populations, excluding other equally important groups.
The College of Pharmacists of Costa Rica have established an initiative to develop tools which facilitate the organisation of immunisation services in pharmacies, enhancing vaccination rates and public health. This initiative incorporated five key areas: an audit of vaccine services and existing challenges; the development of training programmes for pharmacists; the implementation of professional guidelines; the impact of influenza vaccination services; and, the implementation of public awareness campaigns.
This session will explore the role of pharmacies in implementing immunisation services to improve vaccination rates and public health in Costa Rica. It will present strategies for integrating vaccination services into pharmacies and their alignment with international practices, and the impact of these strategies on immunisation services, pharmacist competencies, and public awareness.
