The state of Louisiana found that tweaking procedures and protocols allowed pharmacists to provide flu vaccines, greatly expanding the ranks of potential vaccinators in the state.
In 2009, Louisiana law already allowed pharmacists who had received the proper training and were credentialed by the Board of Pharmacy as vaccinators, to administer vaccine when it was prescribed. To provide vaccinations, pharmacists were given a medication administration registration (MAR) number, which indicates they are registered with the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy as vaccinators.
The novel H1N1 influenza vaccine posed a challenge to that system because people did not need prescriptions to receive vaccine. To work around the prescription issue during the response, Louisiana developed a protocol that allowed pharmacists to administer influenza vaccine under approval of the state health officer. (The State Board of Pharmacy and the Board of Medical Examiners approved the protocol in October 2009.)
The protocol did not require patients to present a prescription to receive the vaccine.
To communicate this policy change, the state health department sent e-mails and faxes to all pharmacists with MAR numbers. An updated list of pharmacists with MAR numbers was obtained from Pharmacy Services, which regularly received the list from the Board of Pharmacy.
Pharmacists were asked to participate in the H1N1 vaccination campaign by registering in the Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids Statewide (LINKS) system and providing their MAR numbers. Vaccine was only distributed to pharmacists who were registered through LINKS. An on-line tutorial was developed to train new users on how to use the LINKS system.
A list of pharmacies that provided vaccine was posted on the State website: www.fighttheflula.com. Communication was maintained with the pharmacists through Pharmacy Services and the Immunization Program by e-mail, blast faxes and phone calls. This program was such a success that Louisiana hopes to propose new legislation to expand pharmacist participation and roles in emergency preparedness and response in the future.
