Pharmacists' perspectives on providing the COVID-19 vaccine in community pharmacies

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to explore community pharmacists’ perspectives on administering COVID-19 vaccine in community pharmacies in Jordan. Methods Purposeful sampling was used to identify a list of 100 community pharmacies which were approached to participate in the study. Twenty-three interviews were needed to reach data saturation. In-depth interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed and analysed using NVivo 11 software. Interviews followed a previously prepared and validated 12-item interview guide. The interview guide discussed pharmacists’ perspectives on providing the COVID-19 vaccine in community pharmacies. Key findings The three overarching themes which described the participating pharmacists’ views towards administrating the COVID-19 vaccine in community pharmacies were advantage, support and barriers. The reported advantages included expediting the COVID-19 vaccination process, convince people to take the vaccine, increased patient accessibility to vaccines and aiding the healthcare system in the vaccination process. Respondents indicated that they would be more willing to administer the COVID-19 vaccine if they received the needed support from the Ministry of Health and the Pharmacists Association. Furthermore, from the respondents’ perspectives, the main barriers to this practice were having no confidence in the vaccine, risk of adverse effects and lack of training and expertise. Conclusions Respondents reported a positive attitude towards administering the COVID-19 vaccine in community pharmacies. Respondents highlighted that they could help fighting the pandemic through administering the vaccine and expedite the vaccination process.