Pharmacists Ready to Receive and Administer COVID-19 Vaccines, According to APhA Survey

More than three quarters of pharmacists plan to be vaccinated with one of the COVID vaccines, and 60% will be set up and ready to vaccinate patients as soon as the vaccine is available, in a recent nationwide survey of 400 pharmacists conducted by the American Pharmacists Association.

When pharmacists were asked if they plan to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine:

• 52% said they would receive the vaccine as soon as possible

• 17% said they would receive it after six months of experience with the vaccine

• 9% said they would receive after one year of experience with the vaccine

• 17% said they were undecided

• 6% said they would not receive it

In a similar survey of pharmacists conducted two months earlier, only 36% of pharmacists said they would receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

The majority of responding pharmacists (60%) also said their pharmacy practices would be ready to administer the vaccines as soon as they are available:

• 37% said they are currently ready to receive the vaccine and vaccinate patients as soon as the vaccine is available

• 23% said they were in the final preparation stages and will be ready to vaccinate patients as soon as the vaccine is available

• 34% said they were not prepared to vaccinate in the first wave of vaccination efforts, but plan to participate in future phases

• 6% said the logistics of participation are too difficult and would not participate

The survey also found:

• 74% of pharmacists surveyed were willing to order and administer the vaccine. Only 2% said they were unwilling to order or administer the vaccine, and 3% were undecided. The balance of respondents stated that they do not provide direct patient care and thus would not vaccinate.

• 70% of respondents said the support staff at their pharmacy practice location is adequate to safely offer the COVID-19 vaccine

• 95% said they had already received, or plan to receive, the influenza vaccine

The survey was sponsored and conducted by the American Pharmacists Association from November 21-28, 2020, with 400 respondents. Pharmacists across many types of practice sites participated, principally in chain pharmacies, supermarket pharmacies, independent pharmacies, and hospital and institutional pharmacies.

About the American Pharmacists Association

The American Pharmacists Association is the largest association of pharmacists in the United States advancing the entire pharmacy profession. Our expert staff and strong volunteer leadership, including many experienced pharmacists, allow us to deliver vital leadership to help pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians find success and satisfaction in their work, while advocating for changes that benefit them and their patients.