More than 730 pharmacies in Aragon will help the General Directorate of Public Health of the Government of Aragon promote vaccination against influenza and covid among people aged 60 years and over. This initiative, supported by the Official Associations of Pharmacists of Aragon, is part of the 2024/2025 vaccination campaign, which aims to increase immunization rates in the most vulnerable groups and reduce pressure on the Aragon Health Service.
The main innovation this year is that Aragon’s pharmacies will receive an automatic notification in the electronic prescription every time a patient aged 60 years or older comes for a medicine. This message will remind the pharmacist about the vaccination recommendation so that the pharmacist can inform the patient about the opportunity to schedule an appointment through Saludinforma.
This notice is already used for patients over 65 years of age, and from November 8 it will be extended to people aged 60 to 64 years and other risk groups. It will run for eight weeks, extending the campaign’s reach and facilitating regular contact with patients during their pharmacy visits.
At each visit, pharmacists will not only remember vaccination recommendations, but will also be available to answer questions and, if the patient needs it, will help make an appointment through the Saludinforma website or app (www.saludinforma.es), thus ensuring that all patients, regardless of their digital abilities, can easily access immunization.
“Pharmacists are a fundamental part of Aragon’s health system and our role in this campaign contributes to vaccination coverage and confidence,” said Raquel García Fuentes, president of the Autonomous Council of Official Colleges of Pharmacists of Aragon.
In addition, pharmacists in Aragon are recording their daily interventions to evaluate the impact of the campaign, noting both recommendations and assistance in organizing vaccination appointments. These data, collected by the Colleges of Pharmacists in Aragon, will allow a detailed analysis of the contribution of pharmacies to public health.