ASCP, NCPA call on governors for inclusion in immunization effort

With many states across the country struggling to immunize senior citizens and other vulnerable populations against Covid-19, two pharmacy groups called on the nation’s governors to recruit independent long-term care (LTC) pharmacies to assist with Covid-19 vaccinations.

“Independent long-term care pharmacists have the experience, specialized knowledge, and, most importantly, the relationships to bring the vaccine to the people who need it most,” said Chad Worz, PharmD, BCGP, and chief executive of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), whose members specialize in LTC. “Many states are struggling to serve long-term care populations. We are urging governors to take advantage of the independent long-term care pharmacists who are ready to vaccinate and are already serving these populations for their medication needs.”

Worz was joined by B. Douglas Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), which represents more than 21,000 independent pharmacies, including many who also focus on LTC.

Worz and Hoey sent a joint letter to the National Governors Association (NGA), asking its members to “deploy their existing state network of long-term care pharmacies and pharmacists to successfully vaccinate their LTC population.”

The federal government has currently contracted with CVS and Walgreens to handle vaccine distribution in LTC facilities.