BY Julie Dang and Margaret Lim
With the flu outbreak in the United States, people are rushing to get their flu shot as soon as possible. People are contacting their primary care providers to schedule an appointment for their immunization. But going to your doctor’s office can be a burdensome chore.
Oftentimes, available time slots do not work in favor of a patient’s schedule since doctor’s offices are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – the same time that most people go to work. What other options do you have?
Many Americans are turning to their neighborhood pharmacy.
When most people think of pharmacists, they think of a person in a white lab coat, behind a counter counting pills and filling medication bottles. Dispensing medications is important, but it is not the only role of the pharmacist in providing care to patients.
Pharmacists have expanded their roles and responsibilities in the last few years, and instead of being responsible only for the integrity of drugs, they are now able to provide services that help patients maximize the use of their medications, including administering vaccines and engaging in one-on-one meetings with seniors to review their medications. Pharmacists will be able to expand their services and give more flu shots, taking some pressure off doctors and allowing patients to get the care they need in a more convenient and affordable way. This is especially critical at a time when flu cases are surging and adult immunization rates are low.
Many pharmacies are open 24 hours a day and on weekends; patients can also walk in without an appointment. Just last week, a CVS pharmacy in Davis, Calif. was able to immunize at least 150 patients.
Due to the high demand caused by the new outbreak of influenza this year, pharmacies are scrambling to order vials and syringes for the flu vaccines. With the high demand of patients inquiring about the flu at local pharmacies, this poses an unexpected concern for pharmacists.
A CVS pharmacy in San Francisco turned away 15 patients on Jan. 15 because they were out of flu shots. However, they were able to receive a larger shipment the next day to accomodate the high demand.
Pharmacists and pharmacy students, including ourselves, are equipped with the skills to immunize patients in a community setting. Some pharmacies even have special rooms for immunizations, providing patients with privacy.
Before you think about going to your doctor, stop and think again. Do you want to wait two to four weeks before you see your doctor and have to reschedule work to make it to a 15-minute appointment? Visit your local pharmacy first.
Your local pharmacist can provide you with flu immunizations, as well as Tdap vaccines, immunizations for shingles and more. They can also provide consultations and screen you before you decide to visit your primary care doctor.
Pharmacists are well-informed and educated about health topics; a majority of them have a doctorate in their studies and work alongside a healthcare team. Although pharmacists are often hidden behind the counter, they are more useful than meets the eye. Don’t miss out on this valuable service; visit your pharmacy and ask for a flu shot from someone you already know and trust, your neighborhood pharmacist.
Dang is a UCLA alumna and Lim is a UC Davis alumna. Dang and Lim are both third-year pharmacy students at the UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy.