immunization toolkit
As the most accessible health care provider in many communities, pharmacies have played a key role in the fight against vaccine preventable diseases for more than two decades. KPhA advocates for pharmacies providing lifesaving immunizations to their communities and has developed several tools for educating pharmacists and the public on the role pharmacy can have in immunizing Kansans.
Are you interested increasing your vaccine offerings at your pharmacy? In partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, KPhA offers personalized immunization consultations to pharmacies. Contact Amanda Applegate to learn more!
KPhA also offers a members-only Vaccine Roundup newsletter, sent 1-2 times per month, packed full with immunization news, CE recommendations, and clinical updates. Register today!
Pharmacy Technicians vaccinating
We know many of you advocated for the change to Kansas state law allowing pharmacy technicians to vaccinate and we're happy to announce that has been implemented as of July 2023! Under the authority of an immunizing pharmacist, a trained pharmacy technician is now able to administer any vaccination on the pharmacist's immunization protocol.
Immunization basics
General
- CDC's Pink Book - contains general information on vaccine administration and summaries of all vaccine preventable diseases with their vaccination recommendations
- ACIP vaccination recommendations for all vaccines authorized for use in the US - detailed breakdown of how, why, and when to use all vaccines
- CDC's Immunization Schedules - quick look at all vaccines recommended by age group
- IAC's Ask the Experts - if you have a vaccine question that's not immediately answered by a recommendation, chances are that someone else has wondered the same thing
- Kansas New Practitioners Network created this excellent handout for addressing specific vaccine hesitancy concerns in both adults and parent/guardians
Administration
- IAC's administering vaccines - dose, route, and needle size
- Video - How to administer an IM injection and a SubQ injection
- Comfortable Vaccines? Reducing anxiety surrounding vaccines in all ages
- Poke Plan - excellent resource from the Meg Foundation to give children and their parents some control and a plan for reducing pain during an injection
Vaccine Errors
- VERP - Vaccine Error Reporting Program - submit this online form if you have a vaccine related error or near miss in your pharmacy. Print the document and keep it with your CQI meeting documents to review with your team
- Common vaccine-related errors and prevention - review to make sure these don't happen in your pharmacy!
- SIRVA - shoulder injury as a result of a vaccine is serious, but preventable
Adverse Events
- Managing vaccine related reactions in adults (including anaphylaxis) in a community setting
- Managing vaccine-related reactions in children and adolescents (including anaphylaxis) in a community setting
- VAERS - Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System - if an adverse event does occur, regardless of the severity, it should be reported to VAERS
- Mandatory reportable events following vaccination
Storage and Handling
- ACIP Storage and Handling Toolkit - this is the definitive set best practices for vaccine storage and following these are a requirement of handling federal- or state-owned vaccines.
- Temperature Log Example Freezer
- Temperature Log Example Refrigerator
- Vaccine Storage and Handling Emergency Plan
- Temperature excursion documentation - use for private purchase vaccines, maintain documentation of all excursions and team response with temperature logs
KDHE Site visits - Please Review!
- KDHE COVID-19 Office Hours slides - COVID-19 site visits
- KPhA checklist for KDHE site visits (clicking will download document)
- *Required document* KPhA/KDHE COVID-19 training document
- *Required document - keep on fridge!* KDHE
Storage and Handling sample document
vaccine resources
Immunize Kansas Coalition
- Vaccine Fears Overturned by Facts - address common vaccine myths with empathy and solid science
Immunization Action Coalition
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
vaccine marketing
COVID Vaccine 4x6" Postcard
Use this customizable postcard to let your community know you have COVID-19 vaccines available. Download
Reminder/Recall lists
Use KSWebIZ to generate a list of patients due for a vaccine at your pharmacy. Tutorial
KPhA Trainings
In 2019, KPhA hosted a series of immunization training continuing education courses through a grant from KDHE. The following are the presentation slides from those courses, as well as a 2021 refresher in pediatric vaccines.
covid-19 vaccine resources
- Interim Clinical Considerations for use of the COVID-19 vaccines
- Current schedule infographic - last updated September 2023 - includes all ages, immunocompromised, and not immunocompromised
- CDC Vaccine Program Provider Agreement requirements and updates
Vaccine videos
Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $79,278,482 with 100% funded by the CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, the CDC/HHS, the U.S. Government, or the Office of the Kansas Governor. For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov. [revision 10/01/21].