Pharmacies Are Where Everyone Can Find COVID-19 Vaccines

A group of legislators recently introduced the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, hoping to ensure patients continue to have access to health services provided by pharmacists.

This Act is important to most Americans since pharmacists administered more than 234 million COVID-19 vaccine doses through March 17, 2022.

This data indicates pharmacies have administered more than 2 of every 3 COVID-19 vaccinations during the pandemic. 

Announced on March 25, 2022, H.R. 7213 would ensure continued access, especially for marginalized rural and urban populations, to essential pharmacist services related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other illnesses, including, but not limited to:

• Testing: COVID-19, Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and Strep Throat,
• Treatment: COVID-19, Influenza, and Strep Throat,
• Vaccinations: COVID-19 and Influenza.

On March 25, 2022, NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson issued a related statement on the continuity of accessible pharmacy-based care: "Americans appreciated access to trusted, convenient and equitable pharmacies and pharmacy teams throughout the pandemic."

"Moving forward with confidence requires ensuring we remain prepared as a nation, which means maintaining pharmacy access through this legislation."

"A Morning Consult poll commissioned by NACDS and conducted February 15-16, 2022, found that 68% of adults rate pharmacies' response to COVID-19 as excellent or good."

"When thinking about healthcare, over four-in-five adults indicate that it is easy to access pharmacies – positioning them as the most accessible entities tested."

The Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition is supporting this pivotal legislation, which would not only help the nation better prepare for future COVID-19 variants and health crises.

Note: This news article edited these announcements for clarity and was curated for mobile readers. And this was not paid content.