Interactive immunization maps show where patients can partner with community pharmacists

WASHINGTON, DC - The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy have released two new maps that visualize where community pharmacies offer immunization services in the United States. One interactive map will help patients find vaccinations close to home at easily accessible community pharmacies. A second map allows health care professionals and public health planners to explore geographic areas and vulnerable populations where pharmacists can be partners in expanding immunization efforts. These maps will be updated regularly to reflect pharmacy location changes to ensure accurate information.

"Our hope is that patients and public health champions will use these maps to learn how to access and engage pharmacists in efforts to expand equitable access to vaccinations," said Lucas Berenbrok, PharmD, MS, associate professor of pharmacy and therapeutics in the school of pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh.

The release of these maps builds upon the collaborative work of APhA and Pitt Pharmacy to demonstrate the importance of patient access to pharmacies and to the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who provide vaccinations in local communities. Previously, Pitt Pharmacy and APhA published an interactive map of pharmacy closures from 2014-2024 that spotlighted growing concerns that community pharmacy access was decreasing nationwide.

"We know that many patients need to catch up on their routine and seasonal vaccines," said Brigid Groves, PharmD, MS, vice president of professional affairs at APhA. "We want patients, health care professionals, and public health champions to have an easy-to-use pharmacy vaccine locator that shares details like languages spoken, appointment or walk-in basis, and directions to the pharmacy."

The maps were created in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Department of Geology and Environmental Science and can be accessed at the APhA Vaccine Confident website: https://vaccineconfident.pharmacist.com/.

This work was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC-RFA-IP-23-0003 Improving Standard Immunization Practices Among Pharmacists and Other Healthcare Providers.

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