Assessment of the Perception, Readiness and Willingness of Community Pharmacists to Provide Vaccination Services in Edo State.

Background: Vaccines are the most cost-effective intervention in preventing infectious diseases. In recent times, attention has turned to preventing infections and diseases in adulthood. Community pharmacists are possibly underutilized public health professionals especially as they are conveniently located and offer extended working hours. By their accessibility and reach in local communities,community pharmacists are ideally positioned to promote and provide vaccination services. The aim is to assess the perception, readiness and willingness of community pharmacists to provide vaccination services in Edo State. Method: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study that was conducted among 250 licensed and registered community pharmacies in Edo State. The interviewer questionnaire was the data collection tool. Descriptive and inferential (χ2 test) analyses were done using SPSS software with a significance value set at <0.05. Result: One hundred and fifty-nine (77.6%) of community pharmacists demonstrated a positive perception of pharmacists' involvement in vaccination services. The most common vaccines available in the pharmacies included tetanus [191 (93.2%)], antirabies [123(60%)], hepatitis b [31(15.1%)], and typhoid [31(15.1%)]. Eighty-five (41.5%) pharmacists have been trained in all aspects of vaccination services. Eight (3.9%) pharmacists have in place all requirements in terms of equipment and conditions for providing vaccination services, while 99 (48.3%) meet some requirements. Regarding willingness to engage in vaccination provision, 109 (53.2%) community pharmacists expressed a strong desire to provide vaccination services. Government policy 188(91.7%) and support from pharmacy regulatory body and Associations are enablers, while the cost of equipment 165(80.5%) and poor knowledge and skills 160(78%) of community pharmacists are possible hindrances to community pharmacists' participation in the vaccination programme. Pharmacists with >5 years of experience (p=0.00), owners of pharmacies (p=0.001), and those working more than 12 hours daily (p=0.000) were more ready to provide vaccine service. Conclusion: Most community pharmacists have embraced their expanded role of providing vaccination services. Some are currently providing this service, while others who are yet to get involved are willing to do so. The need for Pharmacy Regulatory organization and Associations to advocate for community pharmacists as vaccinators and for training and retraining of pharmacists will facilitate the recognition of community pharmacists in the National Vaccination Programme.