NYMC Faculty Publications

Importance of Pharmacy Partnerships in Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1017/dmp.2021.178

Journal Title

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

First Page

1

Last Page

3

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-8-2021

Department

Center for Disaster Medicine

Abstract

The goal of vaccinating the majority of Americans against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a timely manner requires a robust federal vaccine distribution plan involving pharmacy partnerships. Previously, the 2009 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) H1N1 Vaccine Pharmacy Initiative resulted in approximately 10% of adults who received a vaccine during the 2009 pandemic reporting they were vaccinated at a pharmacy. This proportion has already largely increased for COVID-19 vaccinations, with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) using similar channels for vaccination as existing partnerships with national pharmacy and grocery retail chains for the COVID-19 Community-Based Testing Program. It continues to prove crucial that the Biden administration's national COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, including the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, focus on ensuring equitable vaccine distribution and access in medically underserved areas and to vulnerable populations, enabling maximum uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.

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