Mary Hayney, professor (CHS) in the Pharmacy Practice Division, was among global leaders from five countries invited to discuss immunizations and the pharmacist’s role in providing vaccines. Called “Giving a ‘Shot in the Arm’ to Global Pharmacists-as-Immunizers Research,” the two-day, action-oriented workshop was hosted by the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and brought together those exploring the role pharmacists play as immunizers in different parts of the world.

Ontario Pharmacist Evidence Network researchers Nancy Waite and Sherilyn Houle served as co-leaders, along with Lisa Nissen from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. Attendees were leaders in pharmacy practice research. In addition to several Waterloo Pharmacy faculty members, participants hailed from schools of health and technology in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and from Dalhousie University’s College of Pharmacy in Nova Scotia. Bringing these leaders into a shared space for discussion allowed them to share current research and results, identify research gaps, and jumpstart international research collaborations.

Vaccines are one of the most significant global public health initiatives and are responsible for saving millions of lives each year. Across the world, pharmacists are also one of the most accessible health care providers, and in many places they are able to administer vaccines to patients. A recent global report prepared by the International Pharmaceutical Federation estimated that 940 million people live in countries where over 193,000 community pharmacies could potentially offer access to vaccination services. The potential for pharmacy-led outreach and vaccination promotion is there: through their discussions, these researchers will collaborate to maximize their ability to accelerate and lead this outreach in their respective countries and beyond.

The invitation-only workshop was held April 21-22 and was supported by the University of Waterloo International Research Partnerships Grant (IRPG) with matching funds from The Queensland University of Technology.

Hayney’s research interests include host response to vaccination and protective effects, especially as they relate to immunosuppressed individuals. In addition Hayney has a clinical practice in lung transplantation at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.