Final answer:
Before administering a non-influenza vaccination, pharmacists need to ask patients about allergies, medical history, current health status, medications, and previous vaccine reactions to ensure safe and effective vaccine administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prior to administering a non-influenza immunization according to the administration protocol by the CDC and ACIP, the pharmacist should ask the patient for any possible allergies, medical history, including their current health status, medications they are taking, especially those that might suppress the immune system, and any prior adverse reactions to vaccines. Understanding the patient's contraindications for an immunization is critical for safe vaccine administration and is a fundamental aspect of immunization practice.
For example, patients are usually advised to avoid allergy medications before allergy testing. This is to ensure that the test results are not affected by medications that suppress the allergic response, hence providing an accurate assessment of the allergic sensitivities. Similarly, when considering the administration of vaccines, knowing a patient's medical history, including current medications, is important to determine appropriate timing and selection of a vaccine in order to avoid potential adverse reactions or suboptimal immune responses.