Trends in vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings among Medicaid recipients in the United States, 2018-2023: a claims analysis.

BACKGROUND

Medicaid beneficiaries typically have low vaccination rates, in part due to limited access. Pharmacies provide easy-to-access locations for vaccination.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of trends in pharmacy-based vaccination by age and race or ethnicity among Medicaid recipients aged ≥9 from 1 January 2018 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) to 31 December 2023. The percentage of all vaccinations administered at pharmacies and the overall percentage change in vaccination rates were determined.

RESULTS

With some exceptions, overall routine and seasonal vaccination rates remained lower in 2023 than in 2018-2019. This was observed for human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza, and tetanus-containing (Tdap/Td) vaccines in adolescents and for hepatitis A, influenza, meningococcal, pneumococcal, and Tdap/Td vaccines in various adult age groups. The percentage of routine and seasonal vaccinations administered at pharmacies increased over the study period among adults, with increases of 5.2-17.5 percentage points for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV, meningococcal, pneumococcal, and tetanus-containing vaccines among those aged 19-49. Across age groups, pharmacy-based vaccination was most frequent in White enrollees, followed by Black and then Hispanic enrollees, with smaller differentials in adults aged ≥65.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally overall vaccine administration rates declined in Medicaid beneficiaries; however, the proportion administered at pharmacies increased.