The Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is engaged in a statewide campaign to provide vaccinations and education to thousands of older adults over the next year.
Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research, speaks with a patient as a UMSOP student gives a vaccine.
The Aging & Disability Vaccination Collaborative is a partnership between the Lamy Center, the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence (LWCE), USAging, and Meals on Wheels. The collaborative is charged with coordinating outreach and providing education and vaccine clinics in 10 Maryland counties and Baltimore City through April 2024. Professional and independent pharmacies will also join the collaboration to administer the vaccines.
“Our partnership with USAging and Maryland Living Well takes advantage of the Lamy Center’s expertise in educating and providing clinical services to our older adult population,” said Nicole Brandt, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, FASCP, executive director of the Lamy Center and professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research. “This initiative will help thousands of older adults in the state learn about and receive safe and effective vaccines to prevent serious illnesses.”
The Lamy Center’s goals within the campaign are to educate 6,000 older adults about vaccines, provide 3,000 vaccines, and assist up to 1,500 participants in locating vaccine sites and making appointments. The campaign will focus on the shingles vaccine initially and will include COVID-19 and flu vaccines in the fall. There will also be information on pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines. In addition to working with senior communities, the collaboration will survey, educate, and provide vaccination opportunities to clients of Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland.
“Our collaboration with the Lamy Center is focused on establishing partnerships and engaging with older adults and people with disabilities who have been historically underserved and who face additional barriers to accessing vaccines,” said Wendy Farthing, director of chronic disease self-management education and falls integration at Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence. “We support the Lamy Center’s mission and vision and look forward to serving our communities over the coming months.”
A key to the success of the collaborative will be the network of pharmacies, pharmacists, senior communities, and advocates that the Lamy Center is working with to get the word out. Furthermore, the collaborative will be working with PharmD students, residents, faculty, staff, and partners to carry out this work.
“Independent pharmacies are in a unique position due to their ability to operationalize clinical services in a quick and effective manner,” said Mark Hindman, PharmD ’17, a pharmacist at Professional Pharmacy who is partnering with the Lamy Center. “We have been hosting immunization clinics for more than 10 years, so we have experience in developing new clinic partnerships, administering vaccinations, and providing patient education.”