Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database study

Background Pharmacies can increase access to vaccines. This study aimed to describe trends in the proportion of adolescent and adult vaccinations administered in pharmacies in the United States from 2018 to 2024.Research design and methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of medical...

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Main Authors: Yi Zheng, Dong Wang, Ya-Ting Chen, Kunal Saxena, Goran Bencina, Amanda L. Eiden
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Expert Review of Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14760584.2024.2441255
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author Yi Zheng
Dong Wang
Ya-Ting Chen
Kunal Saxena
Goran Bencina
Amanda L. Eiden
author_facet Yi Zheng
Dong Wang
Ya-Ting Chen
Kunal Saxena
Goran Bencina
Amanda L. Eiden
author_sort Yi Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Background Pharmacies can increase access to vaccines. This study aimed to describe trends in the proportion of adolescent and adult vaccinations administered in pharmacies in the United States from 2018 to 2024.Research design and methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of medical and pharmacy claims from commercial health insurance enrollees. We recorded vaccinations received by enrollees ≥9 years of age from 2018 to 2023 (routine vaccines) or 2024 (seasonal vaccines). We calculated the annual proportion of vaccinations occurring in pharmacies and the accumulated percent change in vaccination rate during each year from 2020 onward compared to 2018–2019.Results The proportion of routine vaccinations occurring in pharmacies was higher among adults than among adolescents. For most routine vaccines, this proportion increased during the study period. The lowest proportion was observed for adolescent human papillomavirus vaccination in 2018 (0.2%), and the highest for herpes zoster vaccination among adults ≥65 years of age in 2023 (88.6%). For all age groups, pharmacy-based vaccination was more common for seasonal influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines than for all routine vaccines except herpes zoster.Conclusions Pharmacy-based vaccination is increasingly common in the United States, particularly among adults and for seasonal vaccines, and can help increase the overall level of vaccine uptake.
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spelling doaj-art-8520d3947fcf41e1a60157b65242e1672025-08-20T02:40:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupExpert Review of Vaccines1476-05841744-83952025-12-01241536610.1080/14760584.2024.2441255Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database studyYi Zheng0Dong Wang1Ya-Ting Chen2Kunal Saxena3Goran Bencina4Amanda L. Eiden5Outcomes Research, Merck & Co. Inc ., Rahway, NJ, USAOutcomes Research, Merck & Co. Inc ., Rahway, NJ, USAOutcomes Research, Merck & Co. Inc ., Rahway, NJ, USAOutcomes Research, Merck & Co. Inc ., Rahway, NJ, USAOutcomes Research, MSD Spain, Madrid, SpainOutcomes Research, Merck & Co. Inc ., Rahway, NJ, USABackground Pharmacies can increase access to vaccines. This study aimed to describe trends in the proportion of adolescent and adult vaccinations administered in pharmacies in the United States from 2018 to 2024.Research design and methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of medical and pharmacy claims from commercial health insurance enrollees. We recorded vaccinations received by enrollees ≥9 years of age from 2018 to 2023 (routine vaccines) or 2024 (seasonal vaccines). We calculated the annual proportion of vaccinations occurring in pharmacies and the accumulated percent change in vaccination rate during each year from 2020 onward compared to 2018–2019.Results The proportion of routine vaccinations occurring in pharmacies was higher among adults than among adolescents. For most routine vaccines, this proportion increased during the study period. The lowest proportion was observed for adolescent human papillomavirus vaccination in 2018 (0.2%), and the highest for herpes zoster vaccination among adults ≥65 years of age in 2023 (88.6%). For all age groups, pharmacy-based vaccination was more common for seasonal influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines than for all routine vaccines except herpes zoster.Conclusions Pharmacy-based vaccination is increasingly common in the United States, particularly among adults and for seasonal vaccines, and can help increase the overall level of vaccine uptake.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14760584.2024.2441255AdolescentsadultsCOVID-19pharmaciesUnited Statesvaccination
spellingShingle Yi Zheng
Dong Wang
Ya-Ting Chen
Kunal Saxena
Goran Bencina
Amanda L. Eiden
Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database study
Expert Review of Vaccines
Adolescents
adults
COVID-19
pharmacies
United States
vaccination
title Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database study
title_full Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database study
title_fullStr Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database study
title_full_unstemmed Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database study
title_short Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018–2024: a database study
title_sort trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the united states 2018 2024 a database study
topic Adolescents
adults
COVID-19
pharmacies
United States
vaccination
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14760584.2024.2441255
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