The following thread: Advocating for expanded @pharmacists immunization capabilities to close gaps in vaccine schedules that have been widened due to COVID-19. @RIpharmacists @RIHEALTH #vaccination #publichealth #pandemic #COVID19 Written by @alyssfalleni13 and @jefbratberg
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed a stark need for greater and more equitable community access for public health and primary care. ama-assn.org/delivering-car… @AmerMedicalAssn #equityandinclusion
Despite state and national shutdowns that dramatically reduced emergent, urgent and routine access to medical care and hours of operation, community pharmacies were universally deemed essential businesses and remained open.cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… @CDCgov #essentialservices
More than 90% of Americans live within two miles of a pharmacy, and pharmacies are open longer hours, sometimes 24 hours, and most are open every day of the week. #convenience #equity nacds.org/pdfs/DSN_RxIMP… @NACDS @Commpharmacy @pharmacists @RIpharmacists
Because of this access, @pharmacists, highly trained community healthcare providers, have always played key roles in public health through disease management, medication counseling, and immunization delivery. @PublicHealth
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In a time when the race for a life-saving vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 is turning into a sprint, we must continue to provide protection against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) present in our populations to maintain and expand community, or herd, immunity. ovg.ox.ac.uk/news/herd-immu…
Hepatitis A and B are two VPDs that primarily affect vulnerable populations, particularly with opioid use disorders, people who inject drugs, and/or those who are unstably housed; these groups are at greatest risk for COVID-19 hospitalization and death. @CDCgov @HepBFoundation
Hepatitis vaccination provides lifelong immunity and is a safe & effective way to be protected. cdc.gov/features/hepat…
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Through an educational grant by the Rhode Island Pharmacists Foundation, I have worked to elevate community pharmacists’ roles in administering hepatitis A and B vaccines. hepatitisvaccines.org @RIpharmacists
Pharmacy staff will distribute educational postcards to patients prescribed a medication for OUD and to consumers who buy sterile syringes over-the-counter. Our goal is to highlight the contributions of community @pharmacists to public health. sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
People have never before been as concerned about their health as they are now. Public attitudes towards vaccination dramatically change before, during, and after a global pandemic. #vaccination eurosurveillance.org/content/10.280…
@pharmacists can act to promote health by helping children, adolescents, and adults stay up to date on their immunizations. Due to closures of primary care offices & stay-at-home orders many children are and will remain behind on vaccines. cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/6… @CDCMMWR
Pediatric providers are concerned about outbreaks of VPDs on top of concerns about COVID-19 outbreaks. nytimes.com/2020/06/14/hea… @AmerAcadPeds @nytimes @CDCMMWR
Some COVID-19 symptoms are the same as influenza (a respiratory virus that spreads in families & gatherings). It’s as important as ever to ensure that everyone gets vaccinated against influenza to reduce hospitalizations and healthcare system burden. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Across the nation, @pharmacists are able to administer vaccines to adults. Pharmacists can also administer all recommended pediatric vaccines in 24 states & DC. Other states’ policies allow pharmacists to administer vaccines to age groups less than 18 years old. @RIpharmacists
RI only allows pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children 9 & up. While this is a good start to protect more people against flu, this doesn’t solve the problem of widening gaps in vaccine coverage across the vaccine schedules. #influenza @CDCFlu cdc.gov/vaccines/sched…
If @RIpharmacists were able to administer all vaccines to all individuals, entire family units can schedule one appointment at the pharmacy to not only receive influenza vaccines, but to also provide catch up immunizations. #vaccination @RIHEALTH
Instead of creating entirely new centers to provide catch-up vaccination, over 150 pharmacies in Rhode Island (pop. 1.1M) could be immediately ready to augment efforts to reduce the backlog in cases. cdn.journals.lww.com/jphmp/Abstract…
With the uncertainty of school reopenings, school programs offering pediatric vaccination against the flu may not be readily accessible, providing another reason for pharmacists to be granted permission to provide vaccinations across the lifespan. @RIHEALTH @RIpharmacists
When pharmacists can administer immunizations to all ages to maintain community immunity, they can relieve the burden on other primary care and pediatric providers. Additionally, this sets the stage for establishing community pharmacies as COVID-19 vaccine administration sites.
