DMU Study Highlights the Future of Pharmacist-Led Immunization in the UAE
A newly published pilot study led by Dubai Medical University – College of Pharmacy provides the first published UAE evidence on patient experiences with pharmacist-administered influenza vaccination in community pharmacies. The findings were highly encouraging: 96–100% of patients reported positive satisfaction across service measures, 98% would return to a pharmacy for their next flu vaccine, and 98% would recommend pharmacist vaccination to others.
The study also demonstrated the accessibility of community pharmacies, with 90% of patients receiving their vaccine within 15 minutes and convenience and walk-in access among the main reasons for choosing pharmacy vaccination.
These findings provide an important foundation for expanding pharmacist-led immunization beyond Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to Dubai and other Emirates. With appropriate training, licensing, and healthcare-system integration, community pharmacists could improve access to vaccination, increase public awareness and vaccine uptake, and contribute to preventing vaccine-preventable diseases. The UAE experience may also provide a valuable model for advancing pharmacy-based immunization across the Middle East and globally, and demonstrate how community pharmacists can contribute to accessible, patient-centered immunization services.