Pharmacy Technicians Have Stepped Up During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Just as pharmacists have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kristen Lund, CPhT, a technician at Hy-Vee Pharmacy in Harlan, Iowa, said technicians have taken on greater responsibilities and have become more involved in patient care.

Gaining authorization to administer vaccines has been one of the most important developments over the past year, Lund said. She and her colleagues administered thousands of flu vaccines in the fall, and she said that the ability of technicians to take on more responsibilities gives pharmacists more time with direct patient care.

With all of these new responsibilities, however, many technicians have experienced high levels of stress and burnout. Lund said she is lucky enough to have extremely supportive pharmacists at their pharmacy, and she said making time for self-care is essential for pharmacy employees both during and after the pandemic.