Experts ‘Optimistic’ About Having a COVID-19 Vaccine in 2020

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, National Community Pharmacists Association CEO B. Douglas Hoey, BSPharm, said he’s optimistic about having a vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the end of the year.

Hoey was recently invited to join Operation Warp Speed, the federal project developing vaccinations for COVID-19. Hoey said the initiative has different arms, including development, distribution, and administrative focuses for the vaccinations. Hoey said he is working mainly on the administrative side.

Hoey added that the first available vaccine may be the trailblazer and later vaccines could improve upon it. Furthermore, he said the first option may only be suitable for some populations, whereas future vaccines in early 2021 could be more appropriate for different age groups or ethnicities.

Because of these complexities, Hoey said pharmacists are particularly well-placed for administering the vaccines. Some may require multiple doses or ultra-cold storage, and pharmacists are already positioned to manage these processes, Hoey said.