KEYWORDS:
Pharmacists, Pharmacy, Public Health, Emergency Preparation, Partnerships

BACKGROUND:
Pharmacists' access to the public enables them to play a significant role in improving immunization rates and a community's response to emergencies. Those roles include suveillance, education and counseling, distribution and administration of vaccines and medications.

OBJECTIVE:
To describe roles pharmacists and pharmacy students can play in assisting communities in the administration of immunizations and emergency preparedness and response.

METHOD:
APhA, practicing pharmacists and members of the public health community have recognized the value of collaboration to meet significant public health challenges. Several surveys of pharmacists have been conducted over the past year to determine their level of interest and participation in immunization and community preparedness. In addition best practices have been identified for inclusion in this presentation.

RESULT:
The results of the various surveys will be presented that will discuss learnings from the recent flu season, perceptions of pharmacists to their role in emergency preparedness and response, and best practices.

CONCLUSION:
Pharmacists can be a valuable community resource and are vital elements to achieving public health goals. Communities should view pharmacists and pharmacy students for their patient care skills, in addition to their knowledge of the medication preparation and distribution systems.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe how to develop and involve pharmacists and pharmacy students in a community's public health activities.
2. Identify the roles pharmacists are or could have in the area of immunizations and emergency preparation.
3. Describe examples of best practices and the factors that make them successful.