In 2024, Telligen partnered with Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) to engage Medicare beneficiaries by utilizing pharmacists in the community. Through this partnership, pharmacists within CPESN pharmacies planned and implemented 44 community-based vaccine education events. During the months of August and September, events took place in a variety of settings to meet people where they are at and encourage conversation that provided accurate vaccine information and addressed vaccine misinformation and hesitancy.
Pharmacies in the upper half of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) – an indicator of potential health inequity – were supported to provide 1:1 vaccine screening and education to Medicare beneficiaries in their communities. Pharmacists reviewed the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, reviewed the beneficiary’s immunization record, identified gaps and counseled on vaccines due as well as discussed the recommended influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for the fall. After an individual was screened, the pharmacist reported whether the patient received recommended vaccines, and if not, recorded plans to do so or the level of hesitancy that they encountered.
During August and September, 5,442 Medicare beneficiaries received this service through Telligen’s collaborative program with CPESN and a total of 5,438 vaccines were administered at the time of counseling with another 5,185 vaccine appointments made within 30 days of counseling. Overall, Medicare beneficiaries had high acceptance levels of all recommended vaccines, though the level of vaccine hesitancy varied slightly by vaccine type which will guide future vaccination efforts.
5,438
Total Vaccines Administered
Further, Telligen team members across our four-state region of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and Oklahoma provided additional community-based vaccine education and screening events. In the month of October, Telligen held 18 events to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and recommended vaccines. During these events, Telligen utilized CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz to screen Medicare beneficiaries, provided information on recommended vaccines and encouraged event attendees to have further discussions with their provider or pharmacist. Program Specialists Michael and RoseAnna hosted a successful vaccine clinic at Clermont Park in Colorado.
“We had meaningful discussions with elders about the importance of vaccinations and celebrated those who proactively received their fall shots. The warm welcome from the Clermont Park community fostered insightful conversations and highlighted why staying up to date with vaccines is essential for their health and well-being,” said RoseAnna.
Hear more from local pharmacist Nevin and his experience partnering with Telligen!
National Recognition
Telligen was presented with the Health Equity Champion award at Civitas Networks for Health’s 2024 Annual Conference for efforts to increase vaccination rates and education at more than 1,000 nursing homes across the country. This award recognizes a single organization that has brought community leaders across sectors and stakeholders together to identify root causes of inequity, developed a plan for addressing those root causes, and identified a sustainability model that incentivizes and motivates the advancement of health equity.
