The Pharmacist's Impact on Influenza Prevention Through Vaccination: Recommendations for Improved Outcomes

This activity was originally presented at the 2026 Directions in Pharmacy (DIP) Conference.

Program Description

As influenza continues to significantly impact public health in the United States, pharmacists will remain at the forefront of prevention efforts. Each year, influenza causes an estimated 25 to 50 million illnesses, up to 800,000 hospitalizations, and as many as 50,000 deaths nationwide, according to the CDC. Severe outcomes disproportionately affect older adults, young children, pregnant individuals, and people of all ages with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or immunocompromising conditions. Annual influenza vaccination remains the cornerstone of prevention and control as it has shown to reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalizations by nearly 40% and prevent millions of cases annually. Yet, vaccination coverage remains suboptimal, with persistent disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups and in rural populations.

This session will review the latest Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations, outline updates on available influenza vaccines, and highlight the pharmacist's critical role in improving vaccination uptake, optimizing vaccine selection, and addressing hesitancy to protect vulnerable populations across communities.

Target audience: Community pharmacists and retail pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: June 30, 2026
Expiration date: June 30, 2027
Learner level: Foundational
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

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

• Examine the clinical and economic burden of influenza to reinforce the importance of pharmacist-led prevention and vaccination efforts across all eligible populations
• Apply current ACIP influenza vaccination recommendations in practice to ensure appropriate immunization for diverse patient groups, including pediatric, adult, and high-risk populations
• Use pharmacist-driven strategies to enhance influenza vaccine uptake through patient education, communication techniques to address hesitancy, and system-level interventions that reduce access barriers

Accreditation

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 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-26-207-H06-P. The activity is available for CE credit through June 30, 2027.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, view 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.

Faculty

The following contributors have relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose:

Kimberly C. McKeirnan, PharmD, BCACP – Consultant: Pharmacy Vaccination Research Initiative; Speakers Bureau: American Pharmacists Association, Pharmacy Vaccination Research Initiative, Washington State Pharmacy Association

The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose:

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Adam C. Welch, PharmD, MBA, FAPhA; Emily Tyler; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta.

Any relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

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 ineligible companies to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer

Continuing professional education 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 be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved by the labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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