The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) released its recommended immunization schedule for adults as well as children and adolescents for 2021.
The recommendations for people 19 years of age and older are mostly the same as those for 2020. The report includes guidance specific to vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is important information for pharmacies administering vaccines.
Administering the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as conducting COVID-19 testing, will be covered for the uninsured through the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will provide reimbursement for these services generally at Medicare rates, subject to available funding through the CARES Act.
Burke’s Main Street Pharmacy in Hilton Head Island, SC, is proving community pharmacies can make a difference with COVID-19 vaccine administration. Owners David and Tim Burke began offering the Moderna vaccine a few weeks ago, and the demand has been high. The pharmacy is delivering nearly 100 vaccinations each day. While showing the critical role community pharmacies play during the pandemic, they are also bringing new customers to their Main Street store from the big-box chains. Watch Burke’s Main Street Pharmacy’s story by clicking the button below.
Have you registered yet? The RedSail Hub was built to streamline and strengthen support for your products. It’s a new, state-of-the-art customer portal and a centralized location for all things QS/1. Use it to find resources for the products you use every day: search for answers, create and track support cases, and interact with other customers.
Access to the new Hub requires registration. If you haven’t already signed up, click here and complete the form.
Community pharmacies across the country are looking for new opportunities to expand revenue. It can be difficult to grow by purely dispensing prescriptions; offering clinical services like immunizations helps.
This has become especially true with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations. Click here for a page full of resources on immunizing for COVID-19 and other ways your pharmacy can improve the health of your community and expand revenue.
If your pharmacy uses the Transmucosal Immediate Release Fentanyl (TIRF) Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program, you will need to make changes to continue dispensing TIRF medications beginning March 29, 2021. To re-certify, the pharmacy must review the modified education program, successfully complete the knowledge assessment, and complete the outpatient pharmacy enrollment form. TIRF medicines contain fentanyl, an opioid agonist and a Schedule II controlled substance with an abuse liability like other opioid analgesics.
