08 Aug 2025 Immunization Champion Award Winner : Merrill Mittathany
The Immunization Champion Award, hosted by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognizes individuals doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster immunizations in their communities for children and adults.
The award winners were nominated and selected from a pool of health professionals, community advocates, and other immunization leaders for significantly contributing to public health in their community.
Congratulations to the 2025 Immunization Champion Award winner for Philadelphia, Dr. Merrill Mittathany! Dr. Mittathany is the Pharmacist Immunization Specialist at Shop and Carry Pharmacy.
Dr. Mittathany’s Impact
Dr. Merrill Mittathany’s work has had a profound and measurable impact on public health in the greater Philadelphia area, especially among homebound and high-risk populations who are often overlooked in traditional healthcare delivery models.
Through the Shop and Carry Pharmacy home vaccination program, Dr. Mittathany has personally delivered over 5,000 vaccines directly to the homes of patients who are elderly, immunocompromised, disabled, or without reliable transportation. What began as a partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to provide COVID-19 vaccines quickly expanded—under his leadership—to include additional critical immunizations such as influenza, RSV, shingles, and pneumococcal vaccines.
By ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive timely protection, Dr. Mittathany has helped prevent countless hospitalizations, improved continuity of care, and fostered trust in both the healthcare system and pharmacy professionals. His personalized, compassionate approach has also helped reduce vaccine hesitancy, particularly in underserved communities.
Dr. Mittathany’s model of care has inspired other pharmacists and providers to reimagine the role of pharmacies in community health. He has shown that, with the right leadership and commitment, pharmacies can extend far beyond their four walls—delivering not just medication, but preventive care to those who need it most.
Thanks, Dr. Mittathany, for your contribution to improving public health through immunizations in Philadelphia!