A chill is once again in the air. Oak leaves are covering my yard and the daylight savings time in this part of the world has wreaked havoc on our daily routines. Morning feels closer to normal, but suppertime feels like bedtime. I’m getting ready for an off-site flu clinic this afternoon that was requested by a nursing home facility for their staff and their residents’ families. After our last appointment, we get to spend an hour driving in the dark all the way home.

Remember back to the first flu season that pharmacists were trained to vaccinate? We really didn’t know what to expect in terms of public acceptance or overlap with services provided by other health providers. I wrote about it back in 2013 and the temperature at that time was rather lukewarm. Pharmacists were tentative, cautious and, in many cases, reluctant to jump in.

Oh how times have changed.

Each successive year has pushed the practice to new heights. Year 2, the public health office had a better idea of distribution and vaccine supply was more accessible. In the first year, a number of pharmacists hadn’t yet obtained their injection permits. That limitation was abated in year two and pharmacy capacity for accommodating walk-in appointments skyrocketed.

Year 3, all staff were ready from the October announcement. Not only had workflow been adapted to accept appointments and walk-in requests, pharmacists were now out in their communities making it all the more convenient for employers and community groups alike to receive flu shots. Some were in community rooms and schools, meeting rooms and church halls. Loved ones visiting a parent at a nursing home may have been greeted by a pharmacist from a local dispensary.

This year, flu shots seem like they’ve always been part of pharmacy services. Not only are all of the experiences in previous years being repeated, but now the pharmacists are being sought out to provide these clinics. Word of mouth has led to invitations from previously unknown locations. Employer groups have started to recognize the cost-savings gained by having their staff vaccinated at work to minimize illness. Many of them had never received a shot and would not have made a special trip to the physician’s office. Rural communities with minimal medical services have enjoyed improved vaccination rates due to pharmacist injections. Entire families are coming back to see the same clinician, and are able to shop and run other errands at the same time. ‘Done for another year’ is a common quote as another satisfied customer pulls on their jacket sleeve.

The best part is the team pride. Pharmacists impress themselves with the number of shots they can comfortably do by themselves…on a Monday night…on seniors’ day…with an extra doctor in the after-hours clinic. Managers wait to see the latest aggregate counts year-to-date to see how they stack up to previous years. They speak wistfully about the reluctant child that left with a smile, or the administrator that sends chocolates as a thank you for such a smooth workplace clinic. Awareness is at a high, with more people getting their shots earlier in the season, with minimal disruption to their lives.

It hasn’t been a fluke, but rather a testament to our profession’s resilience; we have risen to meet a new challenge, and after 3+ years, the results are nothing short of impressive.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.