Trends and patterns of pharmacist-administered vaccination in a predominantly Western Australian pharmacy group: retrospective analysis of routinely collected data.

INTRODUCTION

Pharmacists are integral to vaccination strategies globally and within Australia's National Immunisation Program. However, limited evidence exists regarding how uptake of pharmacist-administered vaccination varies across demographic groups and geographic locations.

AIM: This study aimed to analyse trends and patterns in pharmacist-administered vaccinations delivered within a predominantly Western Australian community pharmacy network.

METHOD: A retrospective descriptive analysis was undertaken using de-identified routine vaccination records from January 2021 to April 2025. Data were sourced from a booking system (January 2021-March 2024) and a clinical record system (April 2024-April 2025) of a selected pharmacy group. Temporal trends and vaccination patterns, stratified by demographic (age and sex) and geographical distributions, including Modified Monash Model (MMM) category and proximity to medical centres, were assessed. Vaccination rates per 100, 000 population were calculated across age, sex, and MMM groups using Western Australian vaccination records as the numerator and corresponding population estimates as the denominator.

RESULTS

Over 1.1 million vaccination records spanning 19 vaccine types were analysed. COVID-19 vaccines accounted for 59.4% of all vaccinations, peaking between late 2021 and early 2022. Influenza vaccination showed consistent seasonal peaks (March-June), with a decline in 2024 compared with previous years. Administration of other routine vaccines was variable but gradually increased, particularly in 2024. Vaccination rate per 100,000 population was highly variable among age groups, with an overall lower vaccination rate among younger individuals (aged 5-19 years) and older people (aged ≥85 years). Vaccination services were concentrated in metropolitan areas and pharmacies near medical centres, with a similar pattern between males and females.

CONCLUSION

Community pharmacists played a vital role in vaccination delivery, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and seasonal influenza periods. Routine vaccine administration has the potential to expand further with targeted health campaigns to improve public awareness and uptake across all populations and regions. Further research should develop strategies to enhance equitable access across geographic areas.