First flu vaccination in a Westphalian-Lippe pharmacy

24.09.2021 17:25

From now on, those insured by AOK Nordwest can also get vaccinated against the flu in pharmacies in Westphalia-Lippe. For three years, the AOK and the Westphalia-Lippe Pharmacists' Association (AVWL) will test in a model project whether vaccination rates can be increased through vaccinations in pharmacies.

The AOK and the Pharmacists' Association of Westphalia-Lippe (AVWL) have signed the contract for a corresponding model project. In doing so, the health insurance fund and the association are implementing the will of the legislature, which made such model projects possible with the Measles Protection Act that came into force last year. “We are pleased that we are the first statutory health insurance companies in Westphalia-Lippe to offer our insured persons an additional opportunity to be vaccinated against the flu. In this way, we are shaping care in the regions and at the same time improving the medical care of our insured people,” says Tom Ackermann, CEO of AOK NORDWEST. So far, the vaccination rate in Germany for those over 60 is around 35 percent; according to the World Health Organization it should be 75 percent.

“This is a completely new task for us pharmacists. On the one hand, thanks to our expertise in vaccine issues and, on the other hand, through additional training, we are well prepared to carry out high-quality vaccinations,” says Michael Beckmann.

Experiences from other European countries such as France, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and Great Britain, where vaccinations are already being carried out in pharmacies, have shown that the vaccination rate can be significantly increased through the participation of pharmacists, explains Thomas Rochell, Chairman of the Westphalia-Lippe Pharmacists' Association ( AVWL). This is not about replacing doctors’ vaccinations. Initial evaluations from North Rhine, where vaccinations have been taking place in pharmacies since last season, showed that this offer primarily reached people who would not otherwise have been vaccinated. “This proves that the comprehensive network of local pharmacies is a supporting and safe pillar in prevention and patient-oriented health services,” says Thomas Rochell. “We want to offer low-threshold access to local pharmacies – even during off-peak times – for customers who are not a doctor and may only rarely find their way to a practice and have not yet been vaccinated.”

Facts about the model project

• To Model region, where flu vaccinations can be offered in the fall, include the city Dortmund, the whole Detmold administrative district, the Olpe district, the Märkische Kreis as well as the Hochsauerland district.
• Participation by local pharmacies is voluntary.
• A list of participating pharmacies will be available soon www.apothekerverband.de published.
• The pharmacies can vaccinate AOK insured people over the age of 18.
• Vaccination in the pharmacy is not possible in the event of an acute infection, fever, hypersensitivity to a component of the vaccine, planned surgical procedures in the next three days, treatment of blood clotting disorders, or pregnancy.