Engaging Pharmacies in Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Africa

Introduction

The Coronavirus disease (covid-19) is a transmissible respiratory disease that is mainly transmitted between people via respiratory droplets and contact routes between individuals. Transmission of the virus can occur through Perspective contact with infected people and indirect contact with surfaces in the immediate environment of an infected individual or with objects used by infected individuals [1]. The covid-19 virus is very deadly as it has infected up to 241,491,638 individuals in the world, about 281,727,005 individuals worldwide have recovered and about 4,914,431

individuals have died from the virus [2]. With Africa recording about 60, 367, 46 cases, 148,599 deaths, and about 566,223,882 recoveries as of 17 October, 2021 when this paper was written [3]. On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared this to be a public health emergency of international concern. This disorder was subsequently given a new name on February 11, 2020, i.e. COVID-19 by a WHO expert group [4].

In response to curb the spread of the virus, scientists around the world worked faster than ever to develop a vaccine that could stop the virus from spreading. It can be said that the vaccine came at the right time since the pandemic has become a major problem to lives, the economy, and every other life known to man. To recover from the havoc caused by the virus, to avoid another phase of lockdown and for activities to resume, the COVID-19 vaccine has to be equitably distributed across Africa as soon as possible. Also, to facilitate a faster and equitable distribution of the vaccines to people, it is important to involve pharmacies in the vaccination program. Pharmacies are clinical healthcare centres charged with the discovery, production, disposal, safe and effective use, and control of medications. As closest centre to the public, pharmacies are responsible for the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-quality medicines and medical services to achieve optimal health outcomes.

The world health organization identifies six main building blocks for which pharmacists can play an integral role as a member of the health care team and then a role in medical products, vaccines, and technologies. The role of pharmacists is not limited to medical products but also includes vaccines and medical devices particularly those that may require special knowledge about uses and risks, they further stated that pharmacists are responsible for ensuring the effectiveness, integrity, and safety of medical devices, products and vaccines to protect the health of patients [5]. Hence this study is aimed at elucidating reasons why pharmacies should be involved in the vaccination program in Africa.

Challenges Likely to be Faced by Pharmacies in Covid-19 Vaccination

The preparation, supply, and distribution of vaccine doses in Africa could be potentially influenced by many challenges. These include porous supply chain networks and storage facilities, inadequate electricity, insecurity, vaccine hesitancy due to widespread misinformation about COVID-19, and a health system that is already weak [10]. Vaccines that are already available against the SARS- CoV-2 virus cannot be used in African pharmacies without some challenges and issues. Experts have said that they expect some resistance from people receiving COVID-19 vaccines due to the debate on vaccines, and also due to the debate on the COVID trials in Africa. Researchers have said that adequate awareness of the vaccine is absolutely important and information needs to be given in African countries, as Africans are worried that they will be lab rats for the vaccines. This resistance and lack of adequate knowledge may pose a big problem for the pharmacies that would be involved in the vaccination process.

Quite a lot of countries in Africa cannot afford the COVID-19 vaccine. This would hinder the smooth distribution of vaccines especially by pharmacies that can’t afford to be a part of the vaccination process. Although an initiative known as COVAX has been developed to accelerate the production and equitable distribution of vaccines around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes only about 20% of the population from 46 countries would be able to benefit from this initiative. In many rural areas in Africa, there is barely any electricity supply, and even the major cities face frequent power failures. This issue is one that would determine the involvement of many Pharmacies in vaccine administration. Some of the vaccines to be used are to be stored at really low temperatures, for example, The BioNTech- Pfizer vaccine used in the United Kingdom has to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius. A large number of pharmacies in Africa do not have the facility to store these vaccines, for now [11]. For those who have the storage facilities, the ultra- low temperature freezers would need standby generators or back-up power fuel and this is going to be quite a challenge. For the vaccines that do not require cold storage facilities like the Astrazeneca vaccine, distribution to Pharmacies across Africa could also be a major challenge [12].

Recommendations

Pharmacies are recognized as the most accessible healthcare destination for patients in both rural and remote centers. Amidst the difficulties occasioned by the pandemic, Pharmacies have continued to play their roles in the community and public health. While many medical centers adjusted, pharmacies remained open to ensure that services are delivered to the public through medication supply, disease screening, prevention, and creating of awareness. Many pharmacies also adopted digital technology and telehealth, and expanded services to include home delivery and outreach services. This, however, indicates that regulating policies to enable pharmacists to administer vaccination will promote a trained and skilled-based workforce in mass vaccination, accessibility, and uptake. African Government should also provide support and incentives to community pharmacies in distributing the vaccines. Policies that will ease the distribution of the vaccines across community pharmacies should be implemented as well. America has already made plans to collaborate with local Pharmacies across the country to assist in vaccine accessibility. This should also be approved by African leaders and initiated in all African countries for equitable access to the covid-19 vaccination [13]. The COVID-19 vaccines will likely be administered as part of a series, and dosing intervals just like other vaccines, ensuring a consistent recording system for vaccine details is necessary, and current vaccination status needs to be accessed frequently to optimize vaccination coverage [14]. Community pharmacies are seen as the immediate and closest healthcare point of contact by patients and the general public requiring healthcare services. This has been confirmed before and after the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, engaging pharmacies in pandemics is crucial owing to the specialized and professional training of Pharmacists to provide solutions to healthcare problems [15].

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed uncertainties worldwide. Hence, the current global focus being on mass vaccination. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of pharmacies in the fight against covid-19 in the healthcare delivery system. It has also revealed major roles that pharmacies occupy during this health crisis. Therefore

pharmacies should be considered in the workforce planning to enable quick and large-scale COVID-19 vaccination.