Pharmacists' integral role in administering flu vaccines asserted in report

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In line with National Immunization Awareness Month, a new report has highlighted the role pharmacists play in administering flu vaccinations.

A recent public-private partnership campaign in Palm Beach County, Fla. — which involved the Palm Beach County Health Department, Palm Beach County Pharmacy Association and several local pharmacies — stressed the fact that pharmacists are "an integral part of the nation’s 'first line resource' for health and wellness and can extend the reach for public health initiatives," according to a results report that was published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

“The public-private collaboration between health departments and community pharmacists could improve individual and family readiness, increase access to trained and trusted professionals and strengthen overall preparedness and community resilience,” the article stated.

Commenting on the article, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and CEO Steve Anderson said that the partnership is further drives home the message that pharmacists play a critical role in the healthcare delivery system.

"Pharmacists in all 50 states can administer the flu vaccine to patients, offering yet another important opportunity for patient-pharmacist interaction," Anderson said. "The success of this program described in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice provides additional support for efforts to further expand the age ranges and types of vaccinations for which pharmacists have authority. It also demonstrates yet again the unsurpassed value of pharmacy in improving patient health and lowering healthcare costs."