Abstract
Community pharmacies were underutilized as vaccination locations during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Since that time, community pharmacies are a common location for seasonal influenza vaccinations with approximately one-third of adults now getting vaccinated at a pharmacy. Leveraging community pharmacies to vaccinate during a pandemic such as pandemic influenza or the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will result in a more timely and comprehensive public health response. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results of a strategic planning meeting held in 2017 that focused on operationalizing pandemic influenza vaccinations at a regional supermarket chain pharmacy. Participating in the planning session from the supermarket chain were organizational experts in pharmacy clinical programs, managed care, operations leadership, supply chain, information technology, loss prevention, marketing, and compliance. Additionally, experts from the county and state departments of health and university faculty collaborated in the planning session. Topics addressed included (1) establishing a memorandum of understanding with the state, (2) developing an internal emergency response plan, (3) scaling the pandemic response, (4) considerations for pharmacy locations, (5) staffing for pandemic response, (6) pandemic vaccine-specific training, (7) pharmacy workflow, (8) billing considerations, (9) documentation, (10) supplies and equipment, (11) vaccine supply chain, (12) communications, and (13) security and crowd control. Information from this planning session may be valuable to community pharmacies across the nation that seek to participate in COVID-19 pandemic vaccinations.
Highlights
During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, community pharmacies were underutilized as vaccination locations, with only 10% of adults receiving an H1N1 vaccine at a pharmacy.[1]
There are more than 60,000 community pharmacies in the United States and many Americans live near a community pharmacy.[3,4]
Pharmacies need to consider all aspects of the pandemic vaccination response, ideally prior to a pandemic, through the establishment of an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state and a corresponding internal emergency response plan (ERP)
Summary
During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, community pharmacies were underutilized as vaccination locations, with only 10% of adults receiving an H1N1 vaccine at a pharmacy.[1]. The CDC provides helpful guidance for planning vaccinations at temporary, satellite, or off-site clinics.[14] The process chosen should have the least impact on business continuity and allow for the routine dispensing of medications, as well as the provision of other patient care services These routine services may need to be adapted, to protect pharmacy staff and patients during a pandemic. In addition to documenting pandemic vaccine administration in the pharmacy’s records, pharmacies must record this information in the appropriate state immunization registry This will enable the information to be accessible to all health care providers, and provide valuable data for public health entities tracking vaccination. External communication with the public should provide pandemic information consistent with that of the state health department as well as details about how patients may obtain a vaccine This may include information on vaccine availability, clinic times, and clinic locations. A pandemic vaccine should be in possession of the immunizing pharmacists and kept close at hand
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