A Pharmacist’s Perspective on Navigating the Fall Vaccine Surge
The fall respiratory virus season significantly increases pharmacies' workloads, particularly with the heightened demand for vaccinations. This busy period places immense pressure on pharmacy teams, necessitating meticulous planning, coordination, and adaptability to efficiently handle the increased responsibilities.
Pharmacist shortages and heavy workloads are a persistent challenge throughout the year.¹ A 2022 survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) revealed that over half of pharmacists in the United States were experiencing burnout.²
As a pharmacist in Northwestern Pennsylvania, I witness firsthand the vital role pharmacies play in educating patients and expanding access to vaccines. Let's examine some of the challenges and opportunities pharmacists face during this demanding season, along with tips to help pharmacies navigate it effectively:
What Pharmacists Can Do
Pharmacists serve as crucial points of care, expanding vaccine access across the country, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Patients often interact with pharmacists more frequently than other healthcare providers, highlighting pharmacists' key role in improving health outcomes and providing convenient care.³
Pharmacists need to be well-trained and be well-equipped to address questions about vaccines — especially regarding who is eligible for each vaccine and any age restrictions — to help patients make informed decisions about their health. It’s crucial that pharmacists maintain an up-to-date and working knowledge of the current vaccine recommendations, especially since they can change from year to year.
Use Pre-Filled Syringes
Pharmacists are also always looking for efficient and effective solutions. Moderna’s adoption of pre-filled syringes for vaccines exemplifies how innovative solutions can ease the burden on pharmacists.⁴
When available, pharmacies should use pre-filled syringes as the delivery method, which offer a convenient, ready-to-use formulation that simplifies the vaccine administration, saves time, and reduces waste.⁵
Get Pharmacy in Order
Non-pharmacist staff play a crucial role in ensuring vaccine administration supplies and vaccines are stocked as part of normal pharmacy inventory management. Additionally, with COVID and RSV vaccines primarily stored in the freezer and then thawed in the refrigerator, staff need to understand beyond-use dates and how to appropriately manage inventory to avoid spoilage.
Pharmacies can also improve efficiency by:
Offering a way to schedule vaccine appointments in advance.
Setting clear expectations with patients about potential wait times.
Reminding patients to bring their insurance information and relevant medical history to their appointments.
Connect with Local Providers
Expanding vaccine awareness and enhancing healthcare delivery hinges on effective collaboration across all healthcare sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that patients receive optimal care when all aspects of healthcare work together, extending beyond the traditional doctor's office and hospital-based model. It’s a good idea to make sure that the providers in your area know that you are vaccinating patients and to keep them informed about what vaccines you carry throughout the year.
I encourage everyone to stay up to date on seasonal vaccinations and visit ForYouAndThem.com to find a pharmacy nearby.
¹https://ncpa.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/Pharmacy%20economic%20health%20survey%20AUG%2022.pdf
²Ibid.
³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8890748/
⁴https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7595078/
⁵Ibid.