Pharmacists Remain Health Care Focal Point as Vaccine Recommendations Change

The immunization space faced an increase in societal pressure this year, especially as the landscape of vaccine hesitancy continues to grow in the US. In a KFF survey in September 2025, investigators found that approximately 1 in 6 respondents delayed or skipped at least 1 vaccine for their child, excluding influenza and COVID-19.¹

In the survey, approximately 90% and 88% of patients, respectively, said the measles, mumps, and rubella and polio vaccines were important for children in their community, and 84% and 85%, respectively, said they were confident in the vaccines’ safety. For seasonal vaccines, such as influenza and COVID-19, 65% and 43% of respondents said the vaccines were safe, and 56% and 43% said the vaccines were important for children, respectively.¹

“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines,” Timothy Hudd, PharmD, RPh, AE-C, professor of pharmacy practice at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, said in an interview.² “I think this is really a good opportunity for pharmacists to shine and help dispel any misinformation that might exist and address any barriers that might be standing in the way. I really think it comes down to good communication and remembering to use open-ended questions, listen without judgment, and address concerns using fact-based information.”

Current Vaccine Recommendations

In April 2025, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) began to meet for annual vaccine recommendations, starting with recommendations for meningococcal disease. The committee voted to recommend the use of Penmenvy for meningococcal groups A, B, C, W, and Y as part of the adolescent meningococcal vaccine schedule, stating that patients 10 years and older can receive a single dose of the vaccine as an alternative to MenACWY and MenB, which are typically given at the same clinic visit at age 16. US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr signed off on the ACIP recommendation in late June.^3,4

Additionally, within the same meeting summit, the committee voted to expand the recommendation for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination, which now includes adults aged 50 to 59 years who are at an increased risk of lower respiratory tract disease; vaccines include Abrysvo, Arexvy, and mResvia. The current recommendation also indicates that all individuals aged 75 years and older, as well as patients aged 60 to 74 years who are at an increased risk for severe RSV, receive a single dose of an RSV vaccine, which was officially adopted by the CDC. ACIP also voted to recommend a single dose of the chikungunya vaccine, Vimkunya, for those 12 years and older traveling to a country where there is an outbreak and for patients traveling to or living in a place without an outbreak but with an elevated risk for US travelers.^5-7

Of note, the pneumococcal vaccine remains recommended for patients 50 years and older as well as patients 19 to 49 years old who have comorbid conditions that place them at high risk for invasive disease.⁸

However, in June 2025, Kennedy announced the removal of all 17 members of ACIP, who were then replaced later in the year. Noel Brewer, PhD, who was on the ACIP panel, stated that the decision to remove the members was “completely unexpected” but not “entirely surprising.”⁹

“The new ACIP will need to work quickly to regain trust of health care providers,” Brewer, who is a professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the University of North Carolina, said.⁹ “Transparency on selection and vetting will help, as will clear and strong committee leadership by a respected scientist. They will also have to rebuild institutional knowledge.”

Despite ACIP not meeting to vote on guidelines for COVID-19 recommendations, Kennedy; FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH; and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, announced on X that the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and healthy pregnant women have been removed from the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule. It wasn’t until late September 2025 that ACIP met and voted 12 to 0 that COVID-19 vaccination should be determined by individual decision-making.^10,11

The new COVID-19 recommendation applies to all patients 6 months and older, but it also places an emphasis on the risk-benefit of vaccination for patients, specifically for those under age 65 years at an increased risk of severe COVID-19. The shared clinical decision-making guidance is not a blanket recommendation for the general public or for a subgroup of the population, such as high-risk patients.¹¹

Lastly, ACIP voted to adopt a new recommendation to the child immunization schedule. Instead of pediatric patients receiving the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, the committee voted 8 to 3 to recommend children through age 3 years be immunized for varicella through a standalone vaccine.¹²

The Pharmacist’s Role in Vaccination and Patient Care

“As we know, every year, common respiratory viruses, like flu and pneumonia...cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths, yet vaccination rates continue to decline, especially according to the CDC data,” Samantha Picking, PharmD, senior director of immunizations at Walgreens, said.¹³ “Vaccines remain a safe and effective way to prevent highly contagious illnesses, [such as] measles, flu, [and] pneumonia, among others. Decades of evidence show that these vaccines work and play a vital role in keeping people and our communities healthy.”

Pharmacies are often a convenient and accessible location for patients to receive an immunization, and it can be even more convenient to receive multiple vaccines at the same visit. In a study published in Vaccine, investigators used a noninterventional, cross-sectional study to determine the characteristics of US adults receiving vaccinations in pharmacies or physician’s offices.¹⁴

A total of 938 adults were included in the study, with 618 being vaccinated in a pharmacy. The most common vaccinations administered among patients were influenza and COVID-19, and 2 to 3 vaccinations occurred in approximately 35.7% of vaccination visits. Beyond vaccination, investigators found that patients who were vaccinated at the pharmacy or physician’s office also engaged in other activities, such as 40.5% of patients vaccinated at a pharmacy picking up medication and/or shopping during their visit. Lastly, approximately 76.1% of patients encountered no barriers to vaccination, and the mean satisfaction reported was a 9.3 out of 10 for their visit.¹⁴

Increasing access is one of the biggest benefits of vaccination at pharmacies. Vaccination in a pharmacy is increasingly common in the United States, particularly for seasonal vaccines and among adults, according to authors of a study published in Expert Review of Vaccines. The results of the study showed that almost all routine and seasonal vaccines became more common as the study went on. Seasonal vaccines were also more common than routine vaccines, except for herpes zoster. Furthermore, pharmacy-based vaccination was generally higher for older age groups. It is important to note that the number of human papillomavirus vaccines among pediatric and adolescent patients, as well as hepatitis A and meningococcal vaccines among adults aged 19 to 49 years, were below the expected levels in the prepandemic baseline period. For patients 65 years and older, pneumococcal vaccines were also below prepandemic baseline levels.¹⁵

“Americans actually visit their local pharmacies twice as often as other health care providers. Often, it’s where most people turn to first for health care advice. Pharmacists are on the front lines, helping ensure the health and safety of communities, and really have been for decades,” Picking said.¹⁶ “As pharmacists, we’re not just administering vaccines; we’re listening to patients, addressing their concerns, and then providing evidence-based guidance every day.”

References

1. New KFF-Washington Post survey explores parents’ trust in, and confusion about, childhood vaccines as the Trump administration revamps federal policies. News release. KFF. September 15, 2025. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/new-kff-washington-post-survey-explores-parents-trust-in-and-confusion-about-childhood-vaccines-as-the-trump-administration-revamps-federal-policies/

2. Meara K, Hudd T. Q&A: preparing community pharmacies for respiratory disease season. Drug Topics. August 18, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/q-a-preparing-community-pharmacies-for-respiratory-disease-season

3. GSK’s 5-in-1 meningococcal vaccine PENMENVY receives positive recommendation from US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. News release. GSK. April 16, 2025. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416715903/en/GSKs-5-in-1-Meningococcal-Vaccine-PENMENVY-Receives-Positive-Recommendation-from-US-Advisory-Committee-on-Immunization-Practices

4. Jenco M. HHS approves pentavalent meningococcal vaccine for adolescents, young adults. American Academy of Pediatrics. July 2, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/32573/HHS-approves-pentavalent-meningococcal-vaccine-for

5. ACIP votes to expand recommendation for Pfizer’s RSV vaccine Abrysvo to include adults aged 50 to 59 at increased risk of disease. News release. Pfizer Inc. April 16, 2025. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416881933/en/ACIP-Votes-to-Expand-Recommendation-for-Pfizers-RSV-Vaccine-ABRYSVO-to-Include-Adults-Aged-50-to-59-at-Increased-Risk-of-Disease

6. RSV vaccines. CDC. August 18, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/vaccines/index.html

7. Bavarian Nordic’s chikungunya vaccine receives recommendations from U.S. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). News release. Bavarian Nordic. April 16, 2025. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/16/3062893/0/en/Bavarian-Nordic-s-Chikungunya-Vaccine-Receives-Recommendation-from-U-S-CDC-s-Advisory-Committee-on-Immunization-Practices-ACIP.html

8. Nowosielski B. Respiratory vaccine recommendation updates from the past year: APhA 2025. Drug Topics. March 31, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/respiratory-vaccine-recommendation-updates-from-the-past-year-apha-2025?slide=4

9. Gallagher A. RFK Jr’s decision to replace entire ACIP panel is “completely unexpected,” former member says. Drug Topics. June 11, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/rfk-jr-s-decision-to-replace-entire-acip-panel-completely-unexpected-former-member-says

10. Gallagher A. HHS and American Academy of Pediatrics differ on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Drug Topics. September 10, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/hhs-and-american-academy-of-pediatrics-differ-on-covid-19-vaccine-recommendation

11. ACIP recommends COVID-19 immunization based on individual decision-making. News release. US Department of Health and Human Services. September 19, 2025. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/acip-recommends-covid19-vaccination-individual-decision-making.html

12. ACIP recommends standalone chickenpox vaccination in toddlers. News release. US Department of Health and Human Services. September 18, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/acip-recommends-chickenpox-vaccine-for-toddlers.html

13. Nowosielski B, Picking S. Q&A: persistent vaccine hesitancy amid increased coadministration rates. Drug Topics. August 20, 2025. Accessed October 21, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/persistent-vaccine-hesitancy-amid-increased-coadministration-rates

14. La EM, Sweeney C, Davenport E, Bunniran S. Pharmacy and healthcare provider offices as convenient adult vaccination settings in the US: patient experiences from a survey of recently-vaccinated adults. Vaccine. 2025;54:127057. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127057

15. Zheng Y, Wang D, Chen YT, Saxena K, Bencina G, Eiden AL. Trends in adolescent and adult vaccination in pharmacy and medical settings in the United States, 2018-2024: a database study. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2025;24(1):53-66. doi:10.1080/14760584.2024.2441255

16. Nowosielski B, Picking S. Q&A: pharmacists’ role as the most accessible vaccine provider. Drug Topics. August 18, 2025. Accessed October 21, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/pharmacists-role-as-the-most-accessible-vaccine-providers