Pharmacists Can Help Dispel Vaccine Misinformation

Immunizations are the best way to prevent diseases and can often work with the body’s natural defenses to build better protection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are approximately 30 different vaccines, which target diseases such as cervical cancer, COVID-19, diphtheria, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mpox, mumps, pneumonia, polio, rabies, and yellow fever. According to WHO, immunizations can prevent 3.5 million to 5 million deaths every year.¹

Although vaccines have proven successful, vaccine information is still shared on social media, which can shape behaviors. Evidence-based interventions are important to reduce the effects of misinformation, and efforts can be led by pharmacists.

“When it comes to community pharmacy, it is the most accessible location to get vaccination,” Hashim Zaibak, PharmD, CEO of Hayat Pharmacy, said.² “You can walk into a community pharmacy and get vaccinated 7 days a week. You don't have to make an appointment; community pharmacies are open on weekends, late in the evening. It's a lot more convenient for people who are busy to come and get the vaccine in a community pharmacy versus getting it in a clinic or by appointment.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rise of vaccine hesitancy due to the use of social media, which became the epicenter of misinformation, according to authors of a study published in the BMJ. Although standard approaches to encourage vaccination included mandatory vaccination and regulation for health care professionals, more contemporary strategies included debunking misinformation via social media.³

“With the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a lot of misinformation and myths around the COVID-19 vaccines,” Lauren Angelo, PharmD, associate dean for academic affairs at Rosalind Franklin University, said.⁴ “There are some who think getting natural immunity from the disease is better than getting the vaccine. Parents are still concerned that the vaccines will overwhelm their [children's] immune systems. We know that's not true.”

Pharmacists can play an important role in vaccination as well as dispelling vaccine misinformation. In a study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, the authors stated that pharmacists, because of their accessibility and location, are one of the most trusted sources for patients who need health information and care. Further, pharmacists are in a prime position to listen to patients without judgement and offer honest information to address patient concerns.^5,6

“I'm encouraging patients to talk to trusted health care professionals and to not get their advice from social media or the internet or other strangers, focusing on the fact that vaccines have been studied before, during, and after FDA approval,” Laura Knockel, PharmD, BCACP, clinical associate professor at Iowa College of Pharmacy, said.⁷ “They're more rigorously tested than any other medications because we give them to healthy people, so we have a very, very low tolerance for risk for adverse events. So just really focusing on the fact that our vaccine safety program in the US is very robust even after FDA approval, and so hopefully that will help override some of the conflicting messages that they may be hearing.”

READ MORE: Immunization Resource Center

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REFERENCES

1. World Health Organization. Vaccines and immunization. Accessed August 4, 2025. https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization#tab=tab_1

2. Nowosielski B, Zaibak H. Q&A: community pharmacies help increase immunization convenience, uptake. Drug Topics. August 3, 2025. Accessed August 4, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/community-pharmacies-help-increase-immunization-convenience-uptake

3. Ruggeri K, Vanderslott S, Yamada Y, et al. Behavioural interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy driven by misinformation on social media. BMJ. 2024;384:e076542. Published 2024 Jan 16. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-076542

4. Gallagher A, Angelo L. Q&A: Pharmacists Can Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy Through Trust and Communication | APhA 2025. Drug Topics. April 1, 2025. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/q-a-pharmacists-can-overcome-vaccine-hesitancy-through-trust-and-communication-apha-2025

5. Shen AK, Tan ASL. Trust, influence, and community: Why pharmacists and pharmacies are central for addressing vaccine hesitancy. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2022;62(1):305-308. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2021.10.001

6. Accetta RC. The Role of the Pharmacist in Addressing Vaccine Misinformation. Caring for the Ages. August 2025. Accessed August 4, 2025. https://www.caringfortheages.com/article/S1526-4114(25)00166-0/fulltext

7. Gallagher A, Knockel L. Q&A: Expert Highlights Importance of Trusted Sources for Vaccine Information. Drug Topics. July 6, 2025. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/q-a-expert-highlights-importance-of-trusted-sources-for-vaccine-information