The recent increase in vaccine-preventable diseases is driven by a decline in vaccine coverage and an increase in vaccine-related concerns. Vaccine hesitancy is influenced by the perceived risk and severity of disease and the perceived risks and benefits of vaccination. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address patient concerns about vaccines and provide individualized, evidence-based recommendations. However, recent policy changes, the rapid spread of misinformation, and vaccine-related concerns have challenged pharmacists to have effective patient conversations about vaccines.
This educational activity will equip pharmacists with practical communication tools to effectively and compassionately navigate vaccine discussions. Pharmacists will explore evidence-based strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy, discuss best practices for patient communication, and learn how to confidently explain the science and safety of mRNA vaccines. Pharmacists will have the opportunity to submit personal examples of challenging vaccine-related patient conversations. Live demonstrations will illustrate best practices and common pitfalls, providing real-time examples of effective communication approaches that inspire trust and build vaccine confidence in those with diverse viewpoints.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education with Commendation.
This activity was planned to meet the educational needs of pharmacists who practice in hospitals, health systems, ambulatory clinics, and community settings who provide immunizations.
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
Analyze communication barriers and opportunities to strengthen vaccine confidence for vaccine hesitant patients.
Apply patient-centered communication techniques to support discussions on disease burden and to convey accurate, evidence-based information regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Use evidence-based vaccine recommendations from professional societies to guide discussions with patients and healthcare providers.
3:00 pm Welcome and Introductions Katherine Yang, PharmD, MPH
3:05 pm Overview of the Current Vaccine Landscape Katherine Yang, PharmD, MPH
3:20 pm Real Examples of Challenging Discussions with Patients about Vaccines and Opportunities to Appropriately and Respectfully Respond to Vaccine Concerns Jennifer Cocohoba, PharmD, MAS, AAHIVP and Katherine Yang, PharmD, MPH
3:50 pm Faculty Discussion, Questions and Answers All Faculty
Katherine Yang, PharmD, MPH,Activity Chair Health Sciences Clinical Professor, UCSF School of Pharmacy Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist, UCSF Medical Center San Francisco, California
Katherine Yang, PharmD, MPH, FCSHP is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy and an infectious diseases clinical pharmacist at the UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, California. Dr. Yang specializes in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic optimization of antibiotic dosing for the treatment of multi-drug resistant gram-negative infections. Since the start of the pandemic, Dr. Yang has been heavily involved in the management of COVID-19 therapeutics.
Jennifer Cocohoba, PharmD, MAS, AAHIVP Professor, UCSF School of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacist, UCSF Women’s HIV Program San Francisco, California
Jennifer Cocohoba, PharmD, MAS, AAHIVP, is Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy in San Francisco, California. She serves as a pharmacist at the UCSF Women’s HIV Program (WHP) and Family Health Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where she provides medication management for HIV and chronic disease, supports adherence, and leads medication quality assurance initiatives. Her research focuses on implementation science, pharmacy-based interventions, interventions to improve adherence, and medication use in people with HIV.
In accordance with our accreditor’s Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, ASHP requires that all individuals in control of content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if they have had a financial relationship with an ineligible company in any dollar amount in the past 24 months and the educational content that the individual controls is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.
An ineligible company is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The presence or absence of relevant financial relationships will be disclosed to the activity audience.
The following persons in control of this activity’s content have relevant financial relationships:
Jennifer Cocohoba: Genentech, Inc. – Principal Investigator
All other persons in control of content do not have any relevant financial relationships with an ineligible company.
As defined by the Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education definition of ineligible company. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the CE activity.
To receive CE credit, complete the steps below within 60 days of completing the activity.
Complete the pre-assessment during webinar registration
Attend the live webinar
Answer all post-assessment questions
Complete the evaluation and claim credit
Verify credits were successfully transferred to CPE Monitor before the ACPE 60-day deadline by checking your NABP eProfile account.
Important Note – ACPE 60 Day Deadline Per ACPE requirements, CPE credit must be claimed within 60 days of being earned – no exceptions! To verify that you have completed the required steps and to ensure your credits have been reported to CPE Monitor, we encourage you to check your NABP eProfile account to validate your credits were transferred successfully before the ACPE 60-day deadline. After the 60 day deadline, ASHP will no longer be able to award credit for this activity.
