|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sharon Corbitt scorbitt@aphanet.org;202-429-7537
September 18, 2009
ASTHO Fosters Partnerships between State Health Agencies and
Pharmacies
Strategy Aligns Resources for Massive H1N1
Vaccination
ARLINGTON, VA - The Association of
State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) http://www.astho.org today released new
guidance entitled, An Operational Framework for Partnering with
Pharmacies for the Administration of 2009 H1N1 Vaccine. As the
country prepares for what will be the largest vaccine push in history,
public health officials are thinking of creative ways to maximize
workforce and resources to protect their communities.
ASTHO consulted with the following organizations to
create the guidance: American Pharmacists Association, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, National Alliance of State Pharmacy
Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National
Association of County and City Health Officials, National Community
Pharmacists Association, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human
Services, Office of Medical Affairs at the Department of Homeland
Security, and Rx Response.
“We are talking about agencies that are stretched
to their limits under normal circumstances,” said ASTHO Executive
Director, Dr. Paul E. Jarris MD. “Bringing pharmacies into
prevention efforts will help take some pressure off state health
agencies and traditional healthcare providers. This new guidance will
streamline logistics so our focus can be on the most important issue at
hand, protecting the public’s health.”
Many pharmacies already function as seasonal influenza
immunization sites. Since the H1N1 vaccine is federally purchased and
provided, its distribution and administration must be supervised by
state and local health agencies. Recognizing that state health agencies
already interact with hospitals and healthcare facilities, ASTHO
organized a unique collaborative to create a plan for an effective H1N1
vaccine distribution partnership. facilitate
The guidance, found on ASTHO’s website http://www.astho.org/Programs/Infectious-Disease/H1N1/OpFramework_Pharmacies_STHOs_FINAL/
focuses on planning considerations and formulizing partnerships and
provides a bank of template documents. One of the documents is a Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provider agreement outlining
minimum requirements to ensure that operational objectives and a degree
of uniformity is achieved across various jurisdictions.
About the American Pharmacists Association
(APhA)
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American
Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 62,000 practicing
pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy
technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA,
dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance
patient care, is the first-established and largest association of
pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all
practice settings, including community pharmacies, health systems,
long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings,
and the uniformed services.
About ASTHO
ASTHO is the national
non-profit organization representing the public health agencies of the
United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia, as
well as the 120,000 public health professionals these agencies employ.
ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are
dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and
to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.
###
|
