(312) Implementation of Pharmacy Student Led Longitudinal Immunization Clinics

Objective : To enhance pharmacy students' education through the establishment of Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) service learning immunization clinics by a student organization with faculty oversight.

Methods: An immunization student board was established prior to the Fall 2023 semester and recruited members through email from the Office of Experiential Education. The board, led by co-chairs, consisted of site managers for student communication, student outreach chairs for recruitment, and training and orientation members for educational events. The co-chairs collaborated with faculty and connected with community pharmacy leaders to arrange immunization clinics. In early September, pharmacy students received an invitation to participate in a clinic of their choosing to earn IPPE service learning hours. Board members led pre-clinic primers which covered needle types, vaccination techniques, safety, and hands-on practice using saline injections overseen by faculty. Students created their schedules with their preceptors and completed clinics throughout the semester. Site managers facilitated this communication between students and preceptors, distributed educational materials, and communicated with participating students to follow up on clinic completion.

Results: 23 students engaged in clinics hosted by five organizations: CVS, Big Y, Stop & Shop, University of Connecticut Student Health and Wellness Center, and John Dempsey Hospital. Clinics were held in locations across the state of Connecticut. Students communicated with pharmacist preceptors to schedule clinic times and worked with preceptors to practice their immunization and counseling skills. Students volunteered an average of 17.8 hours over four clinics, administering around 80 vaccines each.

Conclusions: Pharmacy student organizations can effectively organize and implement IPPE service learning immunization clinics. These immunization clinics can expand direct patient care opportunities for students and enhance local immunization rates.