ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Utilization of a Pharmacy Technician to Improve Immunization Rates for Pediatric Heart and Kidney Transplant Recipients

A. Brewer1, E. Benefield1, S. Boehme1, B. Jensen1, K. Molina2, C. Peterson2, C. Heyrend1

1Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, 2University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 1661

Keywords: Infection, Outpatients, Pediatric, Vaccination

Topic: Clinical Science » Pharmacy » 30 - Non-Organ Specific: Clinical Pharmacy/Transplant Pharmacotherapy

Session Information

Session Name: Pharmacy II

Session Type: Poster Abstract

Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Session Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

 Presentation Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Hynes Halls C & D

*Purpose: Transplant recipients are at increased risk of infectious complications from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study aimed to evaluate using a pharmacy technician to provide routine childhood immunizations during kidney transplant or heart transplant clinic to improve immunization rates.

*Methods: Patients seen in our pediatric kidney or heart transplant clinics between August 2021 and November 2021 were included. Patient vaccine records were screened by the pharmacy technician, under transplant pharmacist supervision, prior to clinic visits to identify needed immunizations. Recommendations were based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Society of Transplantation (AST) guidelines for vaccination of solid organ transplant candidates and recipients. The pharmacy technician contacted parents before clinic to discuss in clinic vaccination administration whenever possible. With verbal consent, the pharmacy technician submitted a vaccine prescription to the hospital’s outpatient pharmacy, acquired the vaccine from the pharmacy, and administered the vaccine during clinic under the supervision of an immunization-certified pharmacist. All vaccines were entered into the Utah State Immunization Information System Registry.

*Results: Prior to initiation of this program, vaccines were rarely administered in clinic. During the 4-month study period, a total of 168 patients were screened (86 kidney transplant recipients, 82 heart transplant recipients), with 49 (29%) fully vaccinated. A total of 47 patients received vaccines during the study period (22 kidney transplant recipients, 25 heart transplant recipients) with 89 vaccine doses administered. The most frequently administered vaccines were SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and meningococcal (Table 1). No adverse events were recorded.

*Conclusions: Utilizing a pharmacy technician certified in immunization administration increased the number of vaccines administered to pediatric kidney and heart transplant recipients. Transplant programs who adopt a pharmacy technician immunization program in the clinic setting may benefit from close collaboration with an outpatient pharmacy.

Vaccines and Number of Doses Administered
Vaccine doses administered Kidney Transplant Patients (n=22) Heart Transplant Patients (n=25)
SARS-CoV-2 17 10
Influenza 9 17
Meningococcal 3 11
Human Papillomavirus 3 8
Pneumococcal conjugate or polysaccharide 5 4
Polio 0 1
Tetanus-Diphtheria Acellular Pertussis or Tetanus-Diphtheria Toxoids 0 1

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Brewer A, Benefield E, Boehme S, Jensen B, Molina K, Peterson C, Heyrend C. Utilization of a Pharmacy Technician to Improve Immunization Rates for Pediatric Heart and Kidney Transplant Recipients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/utilization-of-a-pharmacy-technician-to-improve-immunization-rates-for-pediatric-heart-and-kidney-transplant-recipients/. Accessed May 28, 2025.

« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences