With mass COVID-19 vaccination efforts underway, pharmacies have a critical public health role. But limited supply and uneven state and federal rules make it hard to tell the public what to expect. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
Millions, if not most, Americans will likely get their COVID-19 vaccines at a drugstore or at events hosted by pharmacies at local gyms and churches. Mass vaccination is familiar territory for pharmacies. It's also fraught with new challenges this time around, as NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports.
YUKI NOGUCHI, BYLINE: About two decades ago, most states didn't even allow pharmacists to administer a flu vaccine. Now pharmacies are contracting with federal and state governments and are key players for the most ambitious vaccination effort in history.
JOHN BECKNER: Trying to vaccinate most of America - you can't do that without the involvement of pharmacies.
NOGUCHI: John Beckner is senior director at the National Community Pharmacists Association. He says many communities lack access to public health clinics. But 90% of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. So in many rural or underserved areas, the pharmacist is the default health provider. They have the rapport with customers. Their databases track patients' age, health condition and contact information.
BECKNER: That's where pharmacies really have an advantage.
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