key: cord-0810859-hfutp79m
authors: Patel, Cyra; Dalton, Lauren; Dey, Aditi; Macartney, Kristine; Beard, Frank
title: Letter: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacist-administered vaccination services
date: 2020-09-06
journal: Res Social Adm Pharm
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.08.021
sha: 2d9ee462d83b354dcc4b4deb22b8bf626297fada
doc_id: 810859
cord_uid: hfutp79m

nan

Letter: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacist-administered vaccination services 1 2

We write to echo the findings reported by Koster et al, 1 and report that the COVID-19 3 pandemic has also adversely affected the ability of pharmacists in Australia to provide 4 vaccination services. 5 6

Although pharmacist-administered vaccinations account for a small proportion of 7 vaccinations given in Australia (2.9% in 2019), the demand for and scope of pharmacist-8 administered vaccinations has grown considerably in recent years. 2 While almost 95% of 9

pharmacist-administered vaccinations are for influenza, 2 new legislation in recent years in 10 each of the eight Australian states and territories has expanded the types of vaccines that 11

can be administered by pharmacists. 3 Pharmacist vaccination services can improve vaccine 12 coverage, particularly in regional and remote areas. 4, 5 In the context of the COVID-19 13 pandemic, amid strained health systems even in well-resourced nations 6, 7 and reports of 14 declining vaccination coverage, 8, 9 community pharmacists are well-placed to provide this 15 essential primary health care service. 16 17

We conducted a national survey of pharmacists in June 2020 regarding their practices of 18 recording and reporting vaccination encounters to the national Australian Immunisation 19

Register, and asked pharmacists whether provision of vaccination services was affected by 20 the pandemic. Almost all (96%) of the 227 pharmacists who responded to the survey 21 reported higher than expected demand for influenza vaccination in their pharmacies this 22

year, leading to extensive private market vaccine shortages reported both by our study 23 respondents and more generally in mainstream media. 24 25

Challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected more than a quarter of 26 our survey respondents (61/228, 27%), more so in regional areas (32%) compared with 27 major cities (21%). Issues similar to those reported by Koster et al were reported. Almost 28 half of those affected (28/61, 46%) had to implement new protocols that hindered their 29 ability to administer services, such as additional cleaning protocols that required extra time 30

per patient and distancing requirements limiting the number of staff and patients that could 31 be on the premises. Four respondents (7%) noted that personal protective equipment was 32 limited in supply, which was a problem affecting healthcare providers nationally. 10 Ten 33 percent (6/61) were unable to accept walk-in patients and needed to introduce new 34 booking systems. Some (8/61, 13%) experienced staff shortages and rostering difficulties 35 which meant not enough qualified staff were on site to meet the legislated requirements to 36 safely administer vaccinations. Given these challenges, two pharmacies reported being 37 unable to offer vaccination services this year. 38 39

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic will likely see the challenges in influenza vaccine 40 administration faced by pharmacists continue next year. Pharmacists around the world may 41

well have a role in administering an eventual COVID-19 vaccine, bringing new opportunities 42 but also additional challenges. Rather than implementing ad hoc individual solutions, 43 challenges for administering vaccinations in pharmacy are better addressed by adopting a 44 health systems lens and a patient-centred approach. Improved communication between 45

pharmacists, government departments of health and peak bodies can facilitate responsive 46 vaccine supply chains that meet patient demand, and relay information about new 47

Decline in Child Vaccination Coverage 94 During the COVID-19 Pandemic -Michigan Care Improvement Registry

Routine vaccination during COVID-19 pandemic 97 response

Lack of PPE is causing Australian frontline healthcare 99 workers to question their willingness to work

Pharmacists and COVID-19

On the frontline against COVID-19: Community 106 pharmacists' contribution during a public health crisis

Is the paradigm of community pharmacy 109 practice expected to shift due to COVID-19?

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health, the NSW Ministry of Health and The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of these agencies.

 Mechanisms to train pharmacists quickly and upskill those already trained in vaccine  49  administration are essential if pharmacists are to have a role in administering a COVID-19  50 vaccine, and more broadly in their role as patient educators. Complete, accurate and timely 51 data will be necessary to determine the uptake and effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine; 52increasing the use of integrated electronic platforms to record and report vaccinations and 53other patient data can automate many of these functions, reducing administrative burden 54 on staff and inadvertent errors. Integrating these systems can make all pharmacist-delivered 55 services more efficient and improve patients' experiences. 56 57This unprecedented year has seen the role of community pharmacists evolve to include a 58 wider range of health services. J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f