Giant Pharmacies Make All Recommended Vaccinations Available to Customers

Pharmacy Times^® interviewed Samir Balile, PharmD, the clinical pharmacy program manager of Giant Food, on the safety measures Giant pharmacies are taking to protect patients and staff members upon reopening their doors, as well as the importance of the flu vaccine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The discussion includes why Giant has decided to make all vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices available again, what safety measures Giant pharmacies are taking to protect patients when they come in to receive a vaccine, what safety measures Giant pharmacies are taking to protect staff who are administering these vaccines, and what the effects of the reported decline in immunization rates may be now and in the future.

Balile noted that although immunization rates did decline during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was also a significant increase in immunization rates at Giant once they restarted 3 weeks ago.

He said, “I think people still want to get immunized and help protect themselves and their family. I believe moving forward it'll only continue to increase. With that being said, this flu season we've actually increased our flu purchases significantly to help meet the suspected increased demand of flu shots. So, we're expecting a very high-volume flu season, and our Giant pharmacy teams will be ready.”

Balile also discussed whether Giant pharmacies will continue to offer medication delivery or curbside pick-up services, what the impact of COVID-19 economic decline on medication adherence may be, and whether any measures taken by Giant pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue following the pandemic’s end.