COVID-19 screening center in pharmacies.
Pharmacists have played a fundamental role in the health crisis: masks, tests and perhaps vaccines tomorrow.
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MEIGNEUX ROMUALD / SIPA
For several weeks, some caregivers, nurses and pharmacists have been asking to be able to vaccinate against Covid-19.
During her greetings to the press, the president of the Order of Pharmacists insisted on Thursday on the value of such an opening.
With 22,000 pharmacies distributed throughout the country and the imminent arrival of the Astrazeneca vaccine, easier to transport and store, she believes that vaccination in pharmacies, by pharmacists, would accelerate the protection of the most vulnerable.
They have been on the front line since last March.
Pharmacists, both in pharmacies and in hospitals, have helped distribute masks and organize screening using antigenic tests.
And want to participate in the big current challenge: vaccination.
This Thursday morning, the president of the Order of Pharmacists, Carine Wolf-Thal, presented her wishes to the press.
The opportunity to put a layer back: the health crisis has shown the mobilization capacity of pharmacists, who are ready to vaccinate if the authorities give the green light.
Flu vaccination, a success
For the moment, pharmacists are authorized to vaccinate against seasonal influenza only adults targeted by the recommendations.
A gradually enlarged experiment which seems to have borne fruit.
In 2020, "in one week, we vaccinated 1.4 million patients against the flu, and 3.7 million in a month and a half", prides Carine Wolf-Thal.
Proof that pharmacies have their place in the vaccination strategy against Covid-19, according to her.
Moreover, pharmacists are already mobilized.
"Vaccine deliveries mobilize the 100 pharmaceutical establishments which have super freezers, and certain town pharmacies ensure the transfer of vaccines to certain nursing homes", she underlines.
The profession, both Order and unions, has therefore insisted for weeks on vaccinating directly in pharmacies.
22,000 pharmacies throughout France
"We are just waiting for that, and the population as well," assures the President of the Order.
If the vaccination centers have shown their ability to vaccinate quickly, there are still holes in the racket.
Even 1,000 vaccination centers, it is not comparable with what could do the 22,000 pharmacies everywhere in France.
Patient associations have expressed themselves on the difficulty of access to these vaccination centers, either because making an appointment is complex, or because physical access is not easy for an elderly person who lives in 20 km.
What could be better than going around the corner to a well-known healthcare professional?
"
According to Carine Wolf-Thal, the High Authority of Health should publish new recommendations as early as next week, which will specify whether or not pharmacies can accommodate vaccinations.
And under what conditions.
Because today, a doctor must necessarily be present during the injection.
Asked about this possibility, Olivier Véran assured in mid-January that pharmacists and nurses could vaccinate when logistics were simplified, that is to say when vaccines that were easier to handle would arrive on the French market.
AstraZeneca, whose vaccine is stored in a simple refrigerator, should get the green light from the European Union on Friday.
Problem: the British laboratory has announced a drop in deliveries of 60%.
"We don't have enough doses, but they will happen"
Is it really useful then to allow pharmacists to vaccinate for a few doses of AstraZeneca?
“Even if there aren't many, it's important, nuance Carine Wolf-Thal.
Remember the masks: we were able to mobilize the pharmacy distribution circuit to distribute them individually.
This pattern could be duplicated even with a small number of vaccines.
Of course, we don't have enough doses, but they will happen.
The important thing is to anticipate.
"
The President of the Order also wants pharmacies to be able to inject Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
“Pfizer will keep for five days in a normal fridge,” she argues.
Even with the transport time, there are still two or three days where they could be used in the dispensary.
Logistics issues are not prohibitive.
We can see it clearly: mobile units are being set up to reach the patients.
If a vaccine can go around on a bus or in a caregiver's backpack, it could very well end up in a pharmacy fridge!
Today, we need all hands.
"
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