Perspectives Role of Pharmacists in the Provision of COVID-19 Vaccine at Community Pharmacies in Asser Region, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Globally, pharmacists were reported to help in medication supply and delivery, increase public's awareness about the disease, help in testing for COVID-19 and recently administer the vaccine. This study aims to assess the perspective of pharmacists toward providing COVID-19 vaccination at community pharmacies. Self-administered survey was developed and distributed to 252 community pharmacists in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software, version 21. The response rate was 78% where 196 community pharmacists have completed and returned the questionnaire. The majority of participants were males (84%), age between 20-30 years (60.7%), and working at chain pharmacies (86.2%). More than 60% of the participants agree that community pharmacists should be involved in the COVID-19 vaccination, and they would help to speed-up the vaccination process among the public. Most of the participants (72.9%) agree that participation of community pharmacists would ease the stress on ministry of health vaccination centers. The main two barriers that may face the community pharmacists are lack of privacy at the pharmacy and lack of time to provide the vaccination (54.1% and 62.8% respectively). In conclusion, community pharmacists are capable of providing vaccination services and help gaining mass immunity sooner.