The Delta variant—referred to as the 2020 version of COVID-19 on steroids—is not only more transmissible and dangerous, but it is now the dominant strain in the United States.1 That, combined with a recent uptick in case rates and hospitalizations, serves as an important reminder that we are not out of the COVID-19 woods just yet.
Fortunately, both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have to date shown to be very effective in preventing serious illness from COVID-19. Furthermore, with these vaccines now widely available for everyone ages 12 and up, the very good news is that the majority of COVID-19 deaths in the United States are preventable. Those who are now dying of COVID-19 are almost entirely unvaccinated.2
But demand and vaccination rates have declined, and with just 47.7% of the US population fully vaccinated, health experts warn that another wave of dense outbreaks looms on the near horizon—especially in parts of the country with low vaccination rates. This scenario could potentially signal disaster for everyone—even the vaccinated.
Each time the virus is transmitted, it has a chance to mutate, and subsequent mutations offer the possibility of spawning new variants that our vaccines will not provide protection against. Therefore, it is imperative we continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 variants, which means redoubling our focus on the national vaccination initiative.
As mass vaccination efforts transition to local providers, pharmacists still have a unique opportunity to impact COVID-19 vaccination uptake by leveraging their personal relationships with patients, clearing up any misconceptions, and physically administering the COVID-19 vaccine. A tall order – but PrescribeWellness is here to help.
PrescribeWellness—Your Partner in Vaccinations
Local pharmacies continue to serve communities as healthcare destinations critical in supporting the national vaccine initiative, and the PrescribeWellness solution is here to support your practice’s vaccination efforts during COVID-19 and beyond.
When utilizing the PrescribeWellness patient outreach campaign, pharmacists can send a series of automated patient communication reminders, ensuring vaccine appointments are attended and maximum protection is obtained. This tool has been particularly helpful when it comes to administering COVID-19 vaccines. By accessing the first dose’s National Drug Code (NDC), we can know if – and when – an automated second dose COVID-19 reminder communication needs to be sent.
COVID-19 vaccinations have seen considerable expansion in reporting and documentation requirements – both at the state and federal level – due to expanded datasets. The PrescribeWellness solution supports community pharmacists by facilitating integration and connectivity with state immunization information systems (IIS) to report COVID-19 vaccination data, as well as with federal entities – a distinct, but equally important requirement for any pharmacy procuring vaccinations.
