“Who constantly thinks about their vaccination status?”
Being able to get vaccinations at the pharmacy represents real added value for many people. All the more so if vaccination is linked to digital tools such as the Well app. A pilot project in the canton of Bern made it easy to arrange an appointment for the TBE vaccination between May and August 2023.
“We live right on the edge of the forest and spend a lot of time outdoors with our young son. There is a latent risk of being bitten by a tick. Vaccination can protect me against TBE infection,” says one customer, explaining her motivation to get vaccinated at an Amavita pharmacy at the beginning of the vaccination season. TBE stands for tick-borne encephalitis, a viral infection spread by ticks that can lead to severe inflammation of the brain or meningitis. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) therefore recommends the “tick vaccination” for all adults and children aged six and over who visit TBE risk areas. These areas have expanded in recent years. Almost all of the canton of Bern, for example, is considered a tick area up to an altitude of 1,500 metres.
A joint project that creates added value for customers
Reason enough for Galenica to launch a pilot project in the capital's canton together with its partners DV Bern (provider of the VacMe vaccination platform) and the digital healthcare platform Well. The project was preceded by the decision of the canton of Bern's Department of Health to approve VacMe’s infrastructure for the tick vaccination. Approved providers of the relevant vaccination – including all Bernese pharmacies of the Galenica Group – were then able to join VacMe. The Well platform, in which Galenica participates, has a convenient interface with VacMe, allowing users to book their appointment easily via Well. The Well app then reminds them about the three follow-up vaccinations in good time. Even before the official evaluation, the pilot project is creating added value for this customer: “As a working mother, I appreciate the simple and short notice scheduling of appointments. Vaccination at the pharmacy very close to where I live was then carried out in a straightforward and professional manner. I'm glad the Well app also reminds me about the booster shot. Who constantly thinks about their vaccination status?”