APhA Survey Results Finds Pharmacists Ready to Receive, Administer COVID-19 Vaccines

A recent nationwide survey of 400 pharmacists conducted by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) found that more than three-fourths of pharmacists plan to be vaccinated with 1 of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, with 60% planning to be set up and ready to vaccinate patients as soon as the vaccine is available.

When pharmacists were asked whether they plan to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, the results found:

• 52% said they would receive the vaccine as soon as possible.
• 17% said they would receive it after 6 months of experience with the vaccine.
• 9% said they would receive it after 1 year of experience with the vaccine.
• 17% said they were undecided.
• 6% said they would not receive it.

A similar survey of pharmacists conducted 2 months earlier found that only 36% of pharmacists said they would receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Further, 60% said their pharmacy practices would be ready to administer the vaccines as soon as they are available.

While 37% said they are currently ready to receive the vaccine and vaccinate patients as soon as the vaccine is available, 23% said they were in the final preparation stages and will be ready to vaccinate patients as soon as the vaccine is available. However, 34% said they were not prepared to vaccinate in the first wave of efforts, yet they plan to participate in future phases. The logistics of the participation are too difficult for 6% of the participants who said they would not participate.

Other survey results found that:

• 74% of pharmacists surveyed were willing to order and administer the vaccine, 2% said they were unwilling to order or administer the vaccine, and 3% were undecided. The balance of respondents stated that they do not provide direct patient care and thus would not vaccinate.

• 70% of respondents said the support staff at their pharmacy practice location is adequate to safely offer the COVID-19 vaccine.
• 95% said they had already received, or plan to receive, the influenza vaccine.

The survey was sponsored and conducted by the APhA from November 21 to 28, 2020, with 400 respondents, primarily from chain pharmacies, supermarket pharmacies, independent pharmacies, and hospital and institutional pharmacies.

REFERENCE

Pharmacists ready to receive and administer COVID-19 vaccines, according to APhA survey. https://www.pharmacist.com/press-release/pharmacists-ready-receive-and-administer-covid-19-vaccines-according-apha-survey. Published December 2, 2020. Accessed December 4, 2020.