STUDENTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
UMKC Pharmacy Students Partner: Improving Immunization Awareness & Confidence
By: Amir Giurgius, PharmD Candidate 2026 | Heather Lyons-Burney, PharmD, UMKC School of Pharmacy, Faculty Advisor T
hrough Vaccination Awareness, Education, and Administration for Uninsured Adult Patients events held on two days in April, pharmacy students assisted with
increasing immunization awareness and accessibility to under-resourced individuals in north Springfi eld at Alps Pharmacy and in Branson at My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy. T e primary patient population for both sites are low-income patients and other underserved and uninsured populations in Greene and Taney counties, which based on the Social Vulnerability Index reported by the CDC, are more vulnerable than 40.35% and 92.11% of other Missouri counties, respectively.1
In addition, 10.7% of Green
County residents and 15.8% of Taney County residents are without health insurance.1
“A national survey of adults receiving COVID vaccinations available, reported that despite no cost for the vaccine, uninsured adults were much less likely to receive the vaccine than insured adults (54% vs 75%).2
” T e CDC review in 2019 to 2020 of adult
vaccination coverage rates as recommended by Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reported that few adults are fully vaccinated, and recommend improving equitable access.3 T e UMKC School of Pharmacy’s student
chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) was the primary organizer for the event, designing separate marketing material for each
pharmacy and the Springfi eld site to spread the word. T e Springfi eld Student Vice President of NCPA expanded awareness of the event through announcements at NCPA general meetings and as an announcement during a general meeting of the student chapter of the Public Health Organization (PHO). Both pharmacies put up fl yers and gave out bag stuff ers to raise awareness a month prior to the events, as well as posting a large sign asking patients “Are you up-to-date on your vaccines?”. During the event, pharmacy interns worked
alongside pharmacists to utilize Show-Me- Vax and collect information from patients to determine what vaccines they had received and what vaccines they needed. Patient intake forms prepared for the event included a QR code linked to the CDC adult vaccination schedule to provide patients with additional vaccine information. Students and pharmacists provided
information on which vaccines were indicated based on the patient’s health information and the CDC’s vaccination schedule. Specifi cally, TdAP, Shingrix, Prevnar 20 and RSV vaccines were ordered by each pharmacy to prepare for participating patients. Patients who opted for a vaccine were either attended by a pharmacist or pharmacy intern for administration, or were off ered administration a later scheduled time. Uninsured patients received the vaccines at no charge. Collectively across both sites, 23 patients spoke with volunteers about the program
and received vaccine information specifi c to their needs; 20 completed the intake form to determine individual vaccine needs; and 6 patients received vaccines on the same day. Twelve patients were referred for vaccines for no charge by My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy’s partnering clinic. Feedback from volunteers and pharmacists alike was helpful for preparing future events. For instance, simplifying the intake forms to include the most common vaccines as a simple checklist for the expected patient population rather than the entire adult vaccine schedule, may have increased effi ciencies with completion of the form. Printed marketing materials for patients at the pharmacies could have been implemented earlier, with additional use of pharmacy soſt ware technology for electronic reminders. Additionally, targeted information for the entire pharmacy staff may have helped with promotion and preparation for the events. In an unexpected synergy, Alps Pharmacy
was also organizing a similar vaccination program for their patients and this event helped enhance progress towards those same goals. My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy continues to post signage asking patients “Are you up-to-date on your vaccines”, as well as utilizing the intake forms to determine needed vaccines. While this event was successful in reaching out to patients and encouraging vaccine uptake, additional awareness and education events may help to increase vaccination rates and vaccine confi dence among adults. Funding for the event was provided through a MPA grant project application.
Footnotes: 1Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2024, February 23). CDC/ATSDR social vulnerability index.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/ index.html
vaccine-access-for-uninsured- adults-this- fall/#:~:text=Among%20adults%20between%20the%20ages,based%20on%20recent%20 KFF%20polling. | 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, February 17). Vaccination coverage among adults in the United States, national health interview survey, 2019–2020.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/adultvaxview/pubs- resources/
vaccination-coverage-adults-2019-2020.html
THE LEADING VOICE FOR THE MISSOURI PHARMACIST |
MoRx.com 45
| 2Kates, J & Tolbert, J. (2013, September 13). COVID-19 vaccine access for uninsured adults this fall. KFF. https://www.kff .org/policy-watch/covid-19-
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