Pneumococcal Vaccination Project Selected for Funding by the National Immunization Program

Stefanie Ferreri, clinical assistant professor in the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, has received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Immunization Program. Ferreri will receive $149,000 for a one-year project, “Enhancing Pneumococcal Vaccine Rates Through Community Pharmacist Involvement,” which will be carried out in conjunction with Kroger pharmacies. Only one award is made nationally.

Pneumococcal infection causes an estimated 40,000 deaths annually in the United States, accounting for more deaths than any other vaccine-preventable bacterial disease. The long-term objective of Ferreri’s study is to increase pneumococcal vaccination rates among high-risk adults by utilizing community pharmacists to advise patients about pneumococcal diseases and administer the vaccine.

“This grant presents an exciting opportunity for pharmacists,” said Ferreri. “It will allow pharmacists to target individuals who are at high-risk for developing pneumococcal disease and integrate a community pharmacy-based pneumococcal immunization program. Through this grant we hope to increase the public’s awareness about the serious nature of the illness and vaccinate them for protection. If we are successful in showing positive outcomes, this could have a huge impact on the practice of pharmacy.”

Ferreri was also recently elected as member-at-large to the APhA-APPM Clinical/ Pharmacotherapeutic Practice Section.