Pharmacy Times: Can you please introduce yourself?
Jeff Goad, PharmD, MPH: Hi, I’m Jeff Goad. I’m a professor of pharmacy practice at Chapman University.
Pharmacy Times: What communication strategies work best for pharmacists addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy?
Goad: I think when addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, the key is to be honest with patients, give them the correct information, and don’t be judgmental at the beginning. Obviously, COVID, unlike other vaccines, has come with a lot of extra baggage that it shouldn’t have, but it does. So, we need to be conscious of that and meet patients where they are.
Pharmacy Times: How can pharmacies integrate COVID-19 vaccination, including co-administration with other vaccines, into routine workflows?
Goad: I think every time a patient enters the pharmacy, it’s an opportunity, from shelf talkers that identify, you know, patients as they’re looking for over-the-counter products to picking up a medication. A technician might initiate a conversation, or a clerk, or the pharmacist themselves during a consultation or other services. So, the key is multiple access points to make sure that you always have an opportunity to let patients know that you have the COVID-19 vaccination, they are at risk, and you can give it to them now.
Pharmacy Times: Is there anything you would like to add?
Goad: One of my favorite sayings is that a lot of individuals may be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with us. So, we still need to be aware that every year we see about two peaks of this disease, and the COVID-19 vaccines that are available are still very effective at keeping you out of the hospital and keeping you from dying from this disease.