Pharmacist's Perspectives on Administering a Covid-19 Vaccine in Community Pharmacies in Four Balkan Countries

Bibliographic Data

ID22067093
AuthorsAdina Turcu-Ştiolică (0000-0003-1374-276X, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova), Maria Kamusheva (0000-0002-4379-5283, Medical University of Sofia, corresponding author), Maria Bogdan (0000-0001-6078-6576, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, corresponding author), Ivana Tadić (0000-0001-5488-9261, University of Belgrade, corresponding author), Klejda Harasani (0000-0002-1877-6662, University of Medicine Tirana, corresponding author), Mihaela-Simona Subtirelu (University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova), Andreea-Daniela Meca (0000-0002-6890-049X, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova), Sofia Šesto (University of Belgrade), Marina Odalović (0000-0002-3050-8361, University of Belgrade), Jasmina Arsić (0009-0006-8432-5970, University of Novi Sad), Svetlana Stojkov (0000-0002-4351-332X, University of Novi Sad), Emili Terzieva (Medical University of Sofia), Guenka Petrova (0000-0001-8116-5138, Medical University of Sofia)
Year2021
Volume9
Pages766146-766146
Publication date2021-11-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2021.766146
PMID34900910
OpenAlexW3215816137
LanguageEN
References cited34

Community pharmacists expanded their roles and engaged in vaccination services in many countries around the world, but not in Balkan countries. This research aimed to assess the perceptions of pharmacists on involvement in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine administration in four Balkan countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia). A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire that was distributed to community pharmacists across these countries between February and March 2021. A total of 636 community pharmacists were included in the analysis of the survey. The willingness to administer vaccines for COVID-19 (or other vaccines well established in the practice, like a flu vaccine) in community pharmacies is significantly different among the countries: the pharmacists from Albania were more willing to administer vaccines. The factors associated with the eagerness to vaccinate are almost the same among the countries: the lack of training in the faculty classes and the lack of a special place where to administer vaccines. Additional significant factors were found in Bulgaria (pharmacists from independent pharmacies wanted more than the pharmacists working in chain pharmacies to administer vaccines) and in Serbia (male pharmacists agreed more with administering vaccines than female pharmacists). Further national reforms are needed for adopting the expanding role of community pharmacists

Disease · Family medicine · Pharmacist · Vaccination · Influenza Virus Research Studies · Medicine · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Pharmacy · Virology

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