2023-07-10 07:54:46
Over the past few years, community pharmacists have seen their skills expand, particularly in the area of vaccination. A few days ago, an opinion from the High Authority for Health hinted at a new advance, with the future possibility for pharmacists to prescribe vaccines and then administer them. Explanations.
The pharmacist already vaccinates at the pharmacy
The vaccination at the pharmacy began with vaccinations against Covid-19 and seasonal flu (link to sheet: Since the end of 2022, pharmacists can vaccinate adults and children over 16 against other pathologies:
Diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis (DTP vaccine); Whooping cough ; Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; ABCYW meningococcal infections; Pneumococcal infections; Rabies.
To vaccinate against these diseases, the pharmacist must have a medical prescription issued by the doctor. THE vaccination skills of the pharmacist could still evolve very soon and go as far as possibility of prescribing the vaccine and then administering itas suggested by a recent opinion of the High Authority of Health (HAS).
Read also – Pharmacists always more accessible thanks to secure messaging!
The pharmacist can prescribe and then vaccinate according to the vaccination schedule
This notice, dated May 25, 2023, foreshadows the publication of an order and a decree broadening the pharmacist’s vaccination skills. This opinion from the HAS approves authorizing pharmacists to prescribe and administer vaccines for adults and children over 11 years of age, according to the recommendations of the vaccination schedule in force. On the other hand, pharmacists could not prescribe and administer live attenuated vaccines to immunocompromised patients.
The HAS opinion also approves the possibility that pharmacists can widely vaccinate against seasonal flu, including people not targeted by the vaccination recommendations. The objective of such an extension of vaccination skills is to increase the vaccination coverage of the French by increasing the number of health professionals capable of vaccinating, and by simplifying the vaccination process. Going to the doctor will no longer be necessary to be able to be vaccinated at the pharmacy. In a single visit to the pharmacy, the patient can receive the vaccine prescription and be vaccinated!
Read also – Vaccination of over 16s extended to private nurses
What will be the impact on the vaccination coverage of the French?
According to the opinion of the HAS which follows a referral from the General Directorate of Health on April 19, 2023, the order and the decree could be published in the Official Journal in the very next few weeks. The decree should stipulate the prerequisite training requirements prescription by the pharmacist. Pharmacy students could also conditionally administer vaccines.
It now remains to wait for the publication of official documents which will give the starting signal for these new skills for pharmacists in the field of vaccination. The impact of this development on vaccination coverage and therefore on the protection of French people against vaccine-preventable diseases also remains to be assessed.
Read also – Pharmacists: an interview dedicated to pregnant women
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
Sources
– High Authority of Health www.has-sante.fr. Accessed June 26, 2023.
– Vaccination by the community pharmacist www.ameli.fr. Accessed June 26, 2023.
1689482984
#Vaccine #prescribing #pharmacists