Exploring Today’s Most Requested Vaccines

Running a successful pharmacy today is about so much more than just receiving prescriptions and dispensing medications. Pharmacies are integral centers of wellness for patients.

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As pharmacies play a bigger role in the overall healthcare experience, pharmacy owners also have a chance to improve their practice’s financial well-being by offering more services to their patient base. One of the most popular services pharmacies can offer is vaccinations. 

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In this article, we’ll explore the recommended vaccines that patients are likely to request, what age groups need them, and creative ways you can get patients in the door.

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Vaccines for Children

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Out of every age group, small children have the largest list of recommended vaccines to be administered. These immunizations are often required to be up to date to attend school, enroll in camps or activities, and participate in sports.

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At the same time, many new parents can get nervous at the thought of administering so many vaccines at once and will be looking for a trusted professional to help guide them, show them what possible reactions to watch out for, and provide a safe, calming environment for their children to get their vaccines in. 

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As of June 2024, the Centers for Disease Control recommend the following vaccines for children aged 0 months to 6 years:

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• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• DTaP
• Hib
• Pneumococcal
• Polio
• COVID-19
• Influenza/Flu
• MMR
• Chickenpox
• Hepatitis A

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The key to getting parents into your pharmacy with their children? Consider working with local doctors to advertise your convenient, fast drop-in immunizations. You can also highlight other attractive features like calming immunization rooms and quick wait times — this will set you apart from larger hospitals where the vaccination process can tend to be stressful and loud for little ones with vaccination fears.

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Vaccines for Adults

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With childhood vaccines on the way, adults mainly just need to keep up with annual vaccinations and a few other immunizations for specific at-risk age groups. For adults 19-49, the Centers for Disease Control recommends the following vaccinations: 

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• COVID-19
• Influenza/Flu
• Hepatitis B
• MMR
• Tdap
• HPV (human papillomavirus)
• Chickenpox (varicella) – if born in 1980 or later
• MenB (meningococcal disease) – for adults up to 23 years of age

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Attracting patients to your practice to get these vaccines will be all about providing value around time and convenience. Be sure to highlight that you offer drop-ins, quick service, and full stock of the most commonly needed vaccines. You may want to target world travelers in your area specifically by offering vaccines needed for travel to certain locations.

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Vaccines for Older Patients 

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As patients age, their immune systems may weaken, which puts them at a higher risk for certain diseases. For adults 50 and older, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that they’re up to date on these vaccines:

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• COVID-19 vaccine
• Influenza/Flu
• Pneumococcal
• Shingles
• Tdap or Td
• Hepatitis B – recommended for all adults up to 59 years of age
• MMR - if born in 1957 or later
• RSV – adults aged 60 years or older should talk to their healthcare provider about getting a single dose of RSV vaccine

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It’s likely that older patients have been with your practice for quite some time and trust you to help them make informed healthcare decisions. By sending automated vaccination reminders to these patients you can help keep elderly patients on track and protected year-round.