Limited data exist regarding pneumococcal vaccination coverage among the elderly in Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan. The pharmacists’ role in improving vaccine acceptance has become increasingly evident. Yet, large-scale studies assessing the pharmacists’ role on pneumococcal vaccine acceptance among the elderly are scarce. Hence, Researchers evaluated for the first time the current state of knowledge and pneumococcal vaccination coverage among the elderly and the role of pharmacist-led educational intervention on the attitude, awareness, vaccine acceptance, and prompts for physician consultation regarding pneumococcal vaccines in Jordan. Researchers showed that only 3.9% of the participants have ever heard about the pneumococcal disease, with 0.5% vaccination coverage. Immediately after educational intervention, 21.7% of the participants perceived pneumococcal disease as a threat, 52.1% believed in the vaccine’s importance, and 93.9% of them were willing to consult physicians regard. At a two-month follow-up, 30.5% had a positive attitude toward the vaccine, and 36% consulted their physician regarding the vaccine. The recommendation significantly increased vaccination coverage to 1.9%. The main obstacles against vaccination were a negative attitude, and that physician had not recommended the vaccine. Vaccine uptake was significantly associated with physician consultation. Insurance, employment, mood, and reading the booklet significantly predicted physician consultation.
Reference: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645515.2020.1802973
