As part of a new FIP Commitment to Action on improving vaccination coverage through pharmacies, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacy educators around the world today pledged to transform vaccination globally, regionally and locally. (Watch the video here.)

The commitment, launched today during the first FIP Virtual Global Summit on transforming vaccination in pharmacy, is the outcome of FIP’s “Transforming vaccination globally and regionally” digital programme, which began in September this year.

Among the 17 actions described in the commitment are to: 

• Address vaccines hesitancy;
• Strive towards equity of access to vaccinations and with particular focus on expanding vaccination pathways for adults;
• Advocate for legislative frameworks that provide the regulatory assurance of pharmacist-delivered vaccination services and for appropriate funding models; and
• Ensure health system readiness for mass immunisation against current and future pandemics.

“Pharmacy is a highly skilled and trusted health workforce that can deliver an effective and impactful health intervention. All the actions in this commitment are urgently needed to ensure equitable access to vaccines and vaccination services to all people around the world, across all ages and leaving no-one behind, to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, and so that pharmacists can play an even greater part in the fight against emerging diseases,” said FIP CEO Dr Catherine Duggan.

FIP’s Commitment to Action on Improving Vaccination Coverage through Pharmacies is available here.