Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the current practice of Community Pharmacies in immunization services, and evaluate the level of willingness of Community Pharmacists to participate in immunization services.

Study Design: A cross sectional study design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the metropolitan area of Lagos State, Nigeria, with sixteen (16) local government areas (LGAs) between October 2015 and January 2016

Methodology:

Sampling methods: Systematic sampling method was used. Sample size was calculated to be 203, at 95% confidence level, 5% margin of error and 50% fraction of responses.

Study instrument: Data was collected using a validated self-administered questionnaires which consisted of two sections;   Section A: Demographic Characteristics of respondents.

Section B: Knowledge, attitude and current participation level, willingness and preparedness of Community Pharmacists.

Data analysis: Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 21. Descriptive analysis and frequency tables were generated for analysis.

Results: The study revealed that Community Pharmacies in Lagos state are to various extents largely involved in immunization services and generally well equipped with most of the required infrastructure to stock vaccines, with a high percentage found to stock and sell vaccines (84.2%).

Also, while the study revealed that only 43.4% could interpret vaccine vial monitors and most (73.6%) knew what vaccine vial monitors were, 96.2% were willing to undergo training to administer vaccines.

Conclusion: Findings of this study show that Community Pharmacies in Lagos state are to various extents already involved in the provision of immunization services, and enrolling Community Pharmacists in the immunization administration is the next big step in improving immunization coverage and vaccine uptake in Nigeria.