Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA): What do we know about its incidence and impact?

BACKGROUND: Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) has been recognised as the compensable term for any shoulder injury that may result from an improper vaccination technique since 2017, however, its incidence and impact remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To examine knowledge of SIRVA through reported cases, determine SIRVA incidence related to COVID-19 vaccinations, and investigate recovery rates. METHODS: Six pharmacovigilance agencies in the United States of America (USA), Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, and New Zealand were systematically search to identify all reported cases of SIRVA between January 2017 to July 2021. Primary outcome measures were SIRVA case reports. Secondary outcome measures included recovery status as well as vaccine received, age, and sex. SIRVA-related outcome measures were retrieved between July 18th and July 22nd 2021, with UK data received via personal correspondence. RESULTS: Retrospective analysis yielded 505 SIRVA cases since 2017, with 330 (65%) of cases reported from January to July 2021. Sub-analysis, using COVID-19 data of 189 SIRVA cases from 891,906,986 vaccinations, estimated incidence to be 2 per 10 million. 32 cases (7%) had recovered from symptoms at the time of reporting, with 311 (62%) reported as ‘not recovered’, and 162 cases (32%) ‘unknown’. Females represented 75% of reported cases. CONCLUSION: SIRVA case report numbers and incidence from COVID-19 data, compared with prior evidence, raises questions around health practitioner knowledge and reporting accuracy of SIRVA. Recovery rates are poorly understood. A global consensus definition of SIRVA and more transparent and routine reporting is required. The disproportionate representation of females is of concern with no known reasons for this disparity. Further research is needed on SIRVA knowledge in healthcare practitioners, reporting rates, incidence, management, and long-term outcomes for those impacted. Pharmacist vaccinators should be aware of their role in preventing SIRVA and be active in its detection

Vaccination training in Australian undergraduate pharmacy curricula

Context: Recently, legislation has been modified to allow pharmacist administered vaccinations in some Australian jurisdictions. Therefore it is appropriate that pharmacy students are appropriately trained and certified competent to deliver such a service to patients. Such competence will be achieved through the successful completion of approved and validated undergraduate vaccination training program.Description: This short description outlines the progress to date on the development of an Australian, pharmacist specific, validated vaccination training program (VTP) to be integrated within undergraduate pharmacy training, as identified modules with assessed competency. The training program has been developed with consideration of the learner context, teaching context, subject matter and strategic approach.Evaluation: To validate the proposed and developed undergraduate vaccination training program, four focus groups for consultation are in progress.Future plans and implementation: The developed validated undergraduate vaccination training program will be delivered to Australian and Sri Lankan pharmacy students in 2015. On completion, pharmacy students will be surveyed, with the aim to identify participant satisfaction with program delivery. Collection and analysis of survey and assessment data will then be analysed.Successful completion of the embedded training program will contribute to pharmacy student graduate preparedness to administer vaccinations in a safe, competent and ethical manner

Mock interviews for internships: Improving pharmacy student preparedness using formative assessment

Introduction/context: Formative assessment, also referred to as assessment for learning, has been used in higher education to provide individually tailored feedback to students with the goal of improving current performance.Aim: To determine whether formative assessment is an effective method for increasing students’ odds of obtaining an intern pharmacist position.Description of assessment method: Student participants were involved in a formative assessment task which involved two simulated mock interviews, one specific for community and one specific for hospital pharmacy. In preparation for the mock pharmacy interviews students received training and support from the university Careers and Employment Service. Training included how to develop their curriculum vitae, write a cover letter and respond appropriately to selection criteria and how to prepare for and interview well. After completion of interviews students received individual formative feedback.Evaluation: Students were asked to complete two questionnaires to help identify the value of the assessment task. One questionnaire was completed directly after receiving formative feedback, the second after students had applied for actual intern positions approximately eight months after completing the formative assessment task. Most students (8/9) reported the formative assessment task helped them identify their areas of weakness, and allowed them to prepare in such areas prior to their actual interviews. Most students (8/9) indicated that the feedback helped them perform in their actual interviews.Future implementation: Students valued the formative assessment task. There is scope to embed this assessment task into the undergraduate pharmacy curricula. Collaboration with the university Careers and Employment Service helped enhance student preparedness

Development and design of injection skills and vaccination training program targeted for Australian undergraduate pharmacy students

IntroductionIn 2014, vaccination was included within the scope of practice for Australian pharmacists. A number of Australian pharmacy schools have either commenced or are planning to incorporate vaccination training into pharmacy curricula. The primary objective of this article is to articulate the process undertaken to develop an Australian vaccination training program with nested injection skills training for pharmacy students.Material and methodsA set of learning outcomes, assessable knowledge, and assessable skills were developed following a critical review of relevant literature, guided by the Australian Pharmacy Council Standards for the Accreditation of Programs to Support Pharmacist Administration of Vaccines. This ensures that the modules will enable students to demonstrate competency required for vaccination, similar to that of current Australian vaccinators: doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.ResultsA vaccination training program with nested injection skills training was developed and validated. The new teaching and learning concepts will be integrated and delivered via spiral curriculum. Knowledge and skills should progressively improve as students advance through the pharmacy course. Core skills will be assessed on a number of occasions. Integrated modules are embedded into the first year, third year, and fourth year of the pharmacy program.ConclusionA vaccination training program with nested injection skills training was developed for Australian pharmacy students