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I started working in the Safeway Pharmacy, which is part of the Albertsons Companies, when I was in school to become a pharmacist almost six years ago. Since graduating in pharmacy in 2019, I have been working as a “floating” pharmacist for Safeway. As a floater, I move to different Safeways when other pharmacists are away or a certain store needs an extra helping hand.
Pharmacists have a variety of jobs. We fill prescriptions and offer consultations on different drugs, but we also make sure that the prescriptions we fill do not interact negatively with other drugs prescribed to the client.
Pharmacists are probably the most accessible healthcare workers there is. We can answer most prescription drug questions and are easy to reach – whether by phone or in the pharmacy itself. Because of our proximity to the public, I knew pharmacists would play an important role in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country.
Since the government announced that it would start distributing coronavirus vaccines to pharmacies from mid-February, we have received many calls and many questions about when they are available.
We do not yet know when our pharmacy will receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Safeway is part of the federal government’s vaccine distribution plan, as of now our pharmacy has not received an exact date as to when we should expect vaccines to be delivered. I know of some pharmacies in Oregon that have received the vaccine, but it has been sporadic. Most of the vaccines have been distributed to health clinics and hospitals.
At the end of January, we received company-wide online training to prepare for the vaccine. During the training, we learned about the different vaccines currently available, how to store and administer them safely, and what Safeway expects in terms of vaccine supply and demand.
As a pharmacist, I was trained to administer vaccines in pharmacy school, so administering the COVID-19 vaccine will not be any different from giving a patient any other type of vaccine, whether it is a vaccine against flu or shingles vaccine.
Currently, Safeway is also training its pharmacy technicians (who are not pharmacists, but who assist customers and help prepare prescriptions) to administer the vaccine. I anticipate that some Safeways will set up clinics (in the store itself or some other third party location) to administer it, and a way for people to sign up to receive it online and in person.
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The administration of a vaccine is not complicated.
Some vaccines are pre-filled syringes, where all you have to do is prick someone. Sometimes vaccines require reconstitution before they can be administered. It just means that they must be diluted with a solution.
Other vaccines, like Pfizer’s anti-covid vaccine, come with specific storage instructions and should be stored at cold temperatures with minimal exposure to light, and once thawed they should be used in a certain manner. time lapse. We keep this in mind when preparing for vaccinations during our shifts.
As pharmacists, we receive storage and administration instructions from pharmacy supervisors and the vaccine manufacturer. I also use resources like the Pharmacist’s Letter, where healthcare providers can access peer-reviewed research and information.
The most important part of administering COVID-19 vaccines will be determining eligibility.
For example, at present, we can only administer vaccines to those that the local and state government has deemed eligible. For some counties, this may only be a small group of people, such as those over 65. If someone comes in and is registered to get the vaccine but is not 65, I would need a prescription to administer it. Pharmacists should always keep local health guidelines and laws in mind. We also need to consider the person’s medical history and current medications before giving the vaccine.
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We anticipate high demand for the vaccine, and our pharmacy is doing everything in its power to prepare for it.
I volunteered to give the COVID vaccine to patients once it becomes available at our Safeway pharmacy. Volunteering to administer the vaccine was encouraged; however, we have the option of doing this or taking a store shift for someone else who has volunteered to donate photos. I received the first dose of Moderna vaccine on January 28 and I am due to receive the second at the end of February.
During times of overwhelming demand, such as flu season, Safeway has set up clinics outside the pharmacy to administer vaccines. I think this will be the case with the coronavirus vaccine as well, as people in line outside the store could become an issue of distance and flow. I still have other tasks, like processing prescriptions and helping patients, so if the vaccine is given in our house, there will probably be queues for a while.
In an email, a spokesperson for Safeway said: “Throughout the pandemic, the communities we serve have trusted our pharmacy teams to play a critical role in maintaining their health and safety. their well-being. At Albertsons Companies and Safeway, we view vaccinations as an extremely important audience.Our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have prepared to meet unprecedented demand and to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine safely and effectively. We are deeply grateful for the way our teams have served their communities and cared for their neighbors during these difficult times. “
The pharmacist’s identity has been verified by Business Insider.
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