Reducing the Risk of Egg Adaptation: The Role of Cell-Based Influenza Vaccines

2025 PTCE Specialty Pharmacy Day of Education in partnership with Asembia

Program Description

Influenza remains a considerable public health threat globally, with an estimated 40 million illnesses in the United States during the 2023–2024 season. Vaccination is a valuable method for mitigating influenza in the population. However, the burden of influenza remains high, partly due to suboptimal vaccine effectiveness when circulating viruses are mismatched with vaccine strains. This program will discuss concepts of antigenic drift, egg adaptation, and advances in cell-based and other technologies to help address this challenge. Pharmacists have become key health care providers in vaccinating the public against influenza. It is therefore important that they maintain a high level of knowledge about the available vaccines and understand the complex issues that impact their effectiveness. This activity takes a deep dive into the factors affecting vaccine effectiveness, compares cell-based and egg-based technologies, and discusses steps pharmacists can take to overcome barriers to influenza vaccination.

Target audience: Community Pharmacist

Type of activity: Application

Release date: October 28, 2025

Expiration date: October 28, 2026

Time to complete activity: 1.5 hours

Learner level: Intermediate

Fee: Free


Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Investigate the implications of egg adaptation on influenza vaccine effectiveness and the clinical data supporting the use of cell-based influenza vaccines across diverse patient populations.
2. Apply patient-centered counseling strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and recommend appropriate influenza vaccination options based on individual risk factors and current guidelines
3. Identify pharmacist-led initiatives to enhance influenza vaccination rates, collaborating with health care teams to improve patient education, access, and adherence to immunization recommendations

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-25-345-H06-P. The activity is available for CE credit through October 28, 2026.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Disclosures

Mitchel C. Rothholz, RPh, MBA, FAPҺA, has the following financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Advisory Committee Meeting participation for Moderna, Pfizer, Merck

Kevin W. Cleveland, PharmD, ANP has the following financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Grant/Research Support: Educational Research Grant for Seqirus, Inc Consultant: Seqirus, Inc, Merck, Inc.

Jeff Goad, PharmD, MPH, FISTM, FAPhA, FASHP, CTH has the following financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Speaker’s Bureau: Merck, Moderna; Consultant: Valneva, Moderna

The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Faculty

Natasha Bidadi Carey, PharmD, BCGP

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education^™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Adam C Welch, PharmD, MBA, FAPhA; Kylie Ferrrentino; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

At least one anonymous peer reviewer was used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer

CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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ceinfo@pharmacytimes.com
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