IPSF Declaration on Vaccine Hesitancy 2019

The International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) and its Member Organizations,

Recognizing the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases brought about by the decline in immunization rates and the rising threat of vaccine hesitancy,

Acknowledging that vaccines are one of the most cost-effective public health interventions that can prevent 2.5 million deaths annually,

Taking into consideration the various factors such as culture and religion that may contribute to vaccine hesitancy,

Emphasizing the position of the pharmacist as the most accessible health care professional and the expanded role of pharmacists in immunization,

Reaffirming the role of IPSF as a youth healthcare organization in tackling this issue in such a way that it shall impact our local communities,

1. Calls on national governments and professional societies to create legal frameworks for pharmacists to be authorized to administer immunizations with proper training and certification; a. This includes increasing the number of vaccines which may be administered by pharmacists in countries where pharmacists may vaccinate;
2. Recommends academic institutions to consider including training on the administration of vaccines in pharmacy curricula;
3. Emphasizes the potential of offering community pharmacy-based immunization services to make a positive impact on vaccination rates due to increased accessibility to vaccinations; a. Including educating patients regarding vaccine schedules, as well as promoting adherence;
4. Urges national governments to ensure equitable access to affordable vaccines that are safe, effective, and of high quality through:

               a. Effective implementation of vaccination programs;

               b. Public-private partnerships, where applicable;

               c. Ensuring the integrity of vaccines throughout the supply chain as products that require cold chain management;

5. Condemns the misinformation disseminated by the anti-vaccine movement and the consequent effects it has on vaccine hesitancy;
6. Commits to help to debunk myths and misinformation on the safety and efficacy of vaccines through the conduct of various campaigns in our local communities and through social media; a. We shall also ensure that such campaigns are accessible to local communities, especially to populations that are most vulnerable to this misinformation, through member organizations;
7. Recommends the adoption of the Community Engagement Framework (CEF) to curb vaccine hesitancy in local communities;
8. Recommends the creation of a structured long-term plan on educating the public regarding vaccinations and vaccine hesitancy, as well as fighting complacency;
9. Calls on the pharmaceutical industry to invest in research and development efforts for halal and vegan alternatives to pig-derived gelatine used in some vaccines;
10. Calls on national governments to extend HPV vaccination schemes due to the equal HPV risk for both sexes and to curb the incidence and spread of this infection;
11. Encourages governments to ensure that vaccines are affordable to persons in all stages of life;
12. Encourages collaborative engagement among professional organizations to foster information sharing and partnership in vaccine delivery;
13. Urges the public to recognize the multi-faceted role of the pharmacist in issues concerning vaccinations and the threat of vaccine hesitancy.

Download the full document here : IPSF declaration on vaccine hesitancy 2019.pdf