Abstract
Pharmacists around the world are playing an active role in educating the public about COVID-19. First-year pharmacy students taking a healthcare course at Temple University in Philadelphia were asked to write papers based on the nature of a pharmacist’s contributions during the pandemic. 90% of the essays outlined the importance of community pharmacists, as they are the most accessible healthcare professional, providing immediate social interaction and drug expertise. They help minimize the need for hospital visits, limiting their time in public, therefore reducing their risk of becoming infected. For the pharmacies that have a drive-thru window, over-the-counter medications and other necessities can be sold to decrease the likelihood of transmission. Many students also proposed the opportunity for more leniency in prescribing power. Unless pharmacists are within a collaborative practice agreement, they cannot prescribe even maintenance medication. Due to the pandemic, it has become increasingly hard to reach the doctor or see them in person, as most offices have switched to telehealth. Clinical pharmacists operating out of hospitals have the opportunity to oversee proposed treatment options or experimental drugs, such as remdesivir. Retail pharmacies are emerging as key resources in this pandemic, and it is i
Highlights
Pharmacists around the world play an active role in educating the public about COVID-19 [1]
There is overwhelming data by students describing the community perspective. This may be since the community pharmacy experience is most familiar to first-year pharmacy students or that community pharmacy is on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic
Present in multiple student essays is the emphasis that “pharmacists have always been the most accessible healthcare provider”. This is especially true during the pandemic where “other professionals have closed their doors to patients and community pharmacies remained open to the public despite stricter lockdown restrictions” [6]
Summary
Pharmacists around the world play an active role in educating the public about COVID-19 [1]. As the world mobilizes limited resources to combat the infection, legal extensions have been granted to pharmacists regarding preparing disinfectants, renewing prescriptions for chronic diseases, screening for COVID-19, and possibly in the future administering the COVID-19 vaccination. More than 90% of Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy, and community pharmacists serve on the frontlines of delivering public health information, administering vaccinations, doing point-of-care testing, and facilitating patient interactions with the healthcare system [4]. All of these functions emerged as vitally important during COVID-19
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
