INSIGHT - Summer 2020

Summer 2020 | 12 Tap CPESN Ed Vess, R.Ph., Director of Pharmacy Professional Affairs In his June 12 NCPA ® Executive Update, Doug Hoey, CEO, projected a higher demand for vaccinations this fall based on the experiences of his colleagues in the Southern Hemisphere. Those colleagues reported an earlier, higher demand for flu shots. Since Doug’s update, numerous healthcare organizations have echoed his projections. The COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives in ways we never expected. It also highlighted some substantial weaknesses in our healthcare system. Pharmacists have been quick to respond, adapting their workflow to protect their patients and staff while continuing to meet their patients’ needs. The media, and some bureaucrats, noted the needs pharmacists were uniquely able to fill – potentially opening the door for a reevaluation of the clinical services many are able to provide. As America’s most accessible healthcare resource, and the one most frequently visited, pharmacists are in a prime position to educate and inform patients of the importance of vaccines. In fact, pharmacists are the key to successfully immunizing the masses. Public health agencies and groups are gearing up for a massive flu vaccination campaign, beginning in late summer, that will hone in on the importance of getting the shot to help the country get through the coronavirus pandemic. This fall and winter will be especially important with a dual threat of flu and COVID. Plus, pharmacists will need to be diligent in ensuring patients receive the pneumonia vaccine at the appropriate time. Many of the vaccines that would have normally been given this year have been delayed per CDC guidance. This has created a huge backlog of patients who need vaccinations. Before the pandemic, some states were already struggling to give mandatory immunizations – like measles, mumps, and rubella – and voluntary vaccines – like the flu shot – to patients for various reasons. Here is where immunizing pharmacists can lend assistance. Now is the time for pharmacists to ensure their pharmacy is operationally ready for what could be an extraordinarily long and busy immunization season. Here are some tips: • Find ways to improve efficiencies in the immunization process. • Ensure the immunization area allows for social distancing and privacy. • Identify better ways to handle billing and required paperwork. • Consider signing up for automated reporting to a state immunization registry. • Develop a review process to identify additional vaccines that may be due. Pharmacists are key members of the healthcare team who have been essential frontline providers during the pandemic, offering clinical services and point-of-care testing to many patients who would otherwise go without. They have proven their value, strengthened the argument for provider status, and should be appreciated for all they do for their patients and communities. Vaccinators Ready Up