Pediatric transplant recipients commonly have a deficient immunization status at the time of transplantation. Utilizing transplant pharmacists to improve these immunization rates has not previously been described. This single-center, retrospective study evaluated the impact of transplant pharmacist interventions on the completion rate of vaccination schedules at the time of kidney transplant. Patients who received pharmacist-led vaccination recommendations prior to transplant were compared to patients without pharmacist recommendations. Forty-seven pediatric patients were included; 24 intervention patients and 23 control patients. The median percentage of up-to-date vaccinations at the time of transplant was significantly higher in the intervention group (91%; IQR 86-100%) vs. the control group (80%; IQR 71-80%) [p < 0.0001]. The median change in up-to-date vaccinations from time of evaluation to time of transplant was also significantly higher in the intervention group (7.5%) compared to the control group (0%) [p < 0.0001]. There was no difference in live vaccination rates. No patients in either group were readmitted for a vaccine-preventable disease within 6 months post-transplant. With pharmacist intervention, significantly more patients were up-to-date with vaccination schedules at the time of transplant. These results suggest that a transplant pharmacist may serve as a valuable resource to increase immunization schedule compliance between time of evaluation and transplantation.

CITATION INFORMATION: Carthon C, Hall R, Maxwell P, Crowther B. Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Vaccine Recommendation Program for Pediatric Kidney Transplant Candidates. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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