The executive director of the Association of Community Pharmacies, Linda Ayala, announced on Wednesday that the government will include community pharmacies in Phase 1B of vaccination, including people over the age of 65.
“Community pharmacies are scheduled to participate in the Phase 1B vaccination process, which are expected to receive vaccines between the second and third weeks of January 2021. We are ready to collaborate on the vaccination process to ensure that staff have both pharmacies over 65 can be vaccinated. The community pharmacies have the advantage of being scattered all over the island, so we can help comply with the proposed vaccination schedule. The community pharmacies are ready, ”Ayala said in writing.
More than 150 community pharmacies have signed a contract with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) so that they only need the Department of Health to provide them with the vaccines. The pharmacies that signed the contract have already participated in training on how to maintain the cold chain of the vaccine and the protocol to inoculate their patients, so they are prepared and trained to make this effort.
Dr. Iris Cardona, who has led these efforts for the Department of Health, has been a facilitator in including community pharmacies as soon as possible in the administration of vaccines against Covid. She understands that we are health professionals who can contribute to make this initiative successful. We have experience with other vaccination campaigns, such as influenza, ”said Ayala.
The director pointed out that it is important for people to be aware that wherever they are getting their first dose, they should also receive the second dose of the same vaccine.
Elected Governor Pedro Pierluisi and appointed Minister of Health, Carlos Mellado, included the Association of Community Pharmacies in the Scientific Committee to attend the emergency. We trust that we will continue to count on your support so that pharmacies can be part of the solution ”.
In Puerto Rico, there are about 850 community pharmacies throughout the island.