5% (pre-study period) to 5.5% (study period). During the study period, the Tdap vaccination

coverage level per live births was 46.7% greater (p < .001) in the intervention pharmacy than the four comparison hospital-campus pharmacies with no intervention program. The intervention pharmacy with in-hospital vaccination demonstrated a higher rate of Tdap vaccinations among close contacts of neonates than a group of four comparison XAV-939 ic50 hospital-campus pharmacies with no Tdap intervention, as well as a group of 44 area-community pharmacies with no program. This greater increase in Tdap vaccinations illustrates the effectiveness of the intervention program, thus compelling close contacts of neonates to receive the Tdap vaccination. These comparison pharmacies also showed an increase

from the pre-study period to the study period. This increase suggests that pharmacies are becoming another destination for receiving Tdap and other vaccinations. Our study demonstrates the value of the community pharmacy in overcoming barriers to immunization. Previous studies have indicated that patients trust the pharmacist to administer immunizations and value the ease of access [34]. A recent study suggests that retail pharmacy clinics have had an expanded role in the delivery of vaccinations to patients; in 2009, vaccinations were administered to patients at 1952,610 visits, up from 469,330 visits in 2007 [35]. In 2012, the Illinois state also legislature passed a mandate requiring all entering sixth and ninth graders to receive the Tdap vaccination learn more prior to the school year [36]. The availability of Tdap vaccinations at local pharmacies may be beneficial in supporting legislature in Illinois as well as other states where mandates exist. Results of our study suggest that the implementation of a collaborative program between Prentice Women’s Hospital and an on-site Walgreens pharmacy successfully increased Tdap vaccination uptake among close contacts of neonates. Previous studies have also illustrated that education initiatives and vaccination programs conducted by healthcare personnel can successfully increase uptake of Tdap

vaccinations among close contacts of neonates. One study reported a Tdap vaccination rate of 80.5% among all women admitted to the obstetrics unit of the Yale-New Haven Hospital, resulting in a 70.5% increase after implementation of a pharmacist-driven protocol [37]. Another study conducted at Stony Brook University Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit indicated that after implementation of an education program by hospital staff, Tdap vaccination rate was 86.9% among 598 parents of children gestationally aged 23–42 weeks who were admitted to the unit [38]. Previous studies also demonstrate that interventions promoting cocooning of close contacts of neonates have also had a positive impact in the underserved community.