The Leadership of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova is pleased to invite you on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 1:00 PM, to the Senate Hall (2 Petru Rareș St.), for the presentation of the international project 'PharmVac-RO: Enhancing Pharmaceutical Services of Vaccination in Romania Through Awareness, Advanced Training and Digital Tools'. This is a strategic initiative dedicated to the development of vaccination services within community pharmacies in Romania. Joining academic staff and researchers, as well as representatives of independent pharmacies and local and national pharmacy chains, the event will feature guest speakers Dr. Silvia Gatscher, Health Operations Manager at the WHO Country Office in Romania, and Associate Professor Gindrovel Dumitra, MD, PhD, coordinator of the Vaccinology Group within the National Society of Family Medicine.

The initiative aims to optimize the pharmacist's role within the national immunization strategy by strengthening the vaccination service provided in community pharmacies. Although Romanian legislation was updated in 2022 to allow pharmacists to administer influenza vaccines, recent research data show that professional, educational, and communication barriers persist, limiting the full integration of this service into current practice.

To address these challenges, the PharmVac-RO project is structured around two main pillars. The first pillar aims to develop and implement the 'PharmVac-RO Toolkit', an open-access digital educational resource tailored to the specific context and needs of Romanian pharmacists. The second pillar focuses on enhancing the professional competence and confidence of pharmacists, with an emphasis on three essential areas: correct vaccine administration, management of adverse reactions, and effective communication with patients.

Pharmacists in Romania will have access to modern and interactive educational tools, including animated video materials as procedural guides, infographics and course materials, interactive case studies, as well as a series of podcasts featuring practical dialogues between pharmacists and experts in infectious diseases or public health, dedicated to clarifying complex topics related to vaccination.

“The PharmVac-RO project stems from a clear reality: the legislative framework exists, but for vaccination in community pharmacies to become a functional, safe, and widely accepted service, there is a need for training, confidence, and tools adapted to real-world practice. Through this project, we aim to provide Romanian pharmacists with more than just information—we aim to offer applied skills and professional support in a modern, accessible, and relevant format. The PharmVac-RO Toolkit is designed as concrete support for the pharmacist who interacts daily with patients and can play an essential role in increasing vaccination coverage and trust in healthcare services,” stated Professor Adina Turcu Știolică, PhD, Project Manager.

The project, supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Global Medical Grants, was declared the winner in a competition involving no fewer than 20 countries. In Romania, it is implemented through the collaboration between the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and the 'George Emil Palade' University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș.

Through PharmVac-RO, the partners aim to contribute to the consolidation of pharmaceutical vaccination services, the enhancement of pharmacists' professional confidence, and, implicitly, the improvement of public access to safe, modern immunization services that are well-integrated into the Romanian healthcare system.