Community pharmacies can play a vital role in tracking and tracing the spread of Covid-19 infection this year as the government unfurls the biggest flu vaccination drive in a bid to prevent a second wave of coronavirus in the UK.
Professor Dr Mahendra G. Patel, University of Bradford and leading member of the pharmacy profession notes that community pharmacists have built key interpersonal relationships among communities including the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community. With the added advantage of many being well-versed in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, and more closely aligned to the local cultures, Professor Patel believes that these pharmacists can be the government’s next messengers in ensuring that those vulnerable to coronavirus, especially within the BAME community, are regularly updated with the latest public health guidance around the virus.
Community pharmacists are the backbone of NHS
Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice he said, “Community pharmacists are pivotal to health service in the UK and as we have witnessed so clearly during this pandemic. They have also been integral to the success of the flu vaccination drives for several years now. Many are open every day of the week and are often accessible at hours even when the GPs are closed. For years they have helped in relieving some of the unnecessary burdens and pressures imposed on the NHS and its hospitals especially the A&E departments during the winter.
“This year they will have a bigger role to play as both the seasonal winter flu and coronavirus come together and present similar symptoms. Besides giving flu vaccinations, community pharmacists are ideally positioned to reach out to the different communities in different areas. They don’t just provide information on health and or medicine-related issues to one family member but are often connected to multiple generations of the family, and that is especially important within BAME families. Questions such as “Where should I go to get tested for the coronavirus? Why and when should I get tested?” have simple answers that can be delivered in bite size pieces or even pictorial representations by community pharmacists to avoid any information overload or potential misunderstanding. This is especially helpful to the elderly and living on their own.”
Nearly a month ago Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced plans to vaccinate more than 30 million people during this flu season – around double those that were vaccinated last year. According to data collated by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, community pharmacies in England delivered 1,524,753 vaccines in 2019-20. This figure is likely to increase in 2020-21 especially as the government recently confirmed that community pharmacies in Scotland will be able to provide NHS flu vaccinations for the first time this year.
Until recently, among those who qualified for a free flu vaccine were people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, primary school children, and people with certain medical conditions who would be vulnerable to contracting Covid-19 if they caught the flu. The free flu vaccination offer has now been extended to include those aged over 50 to 64. In addition, individuals who are on the shielded patient list, in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and members of their household, will all be invited for a free flu vaccine. Children in their first year of secondary school will also now be eligible for the free offer.
Seeking medical help and advice should not be ignored for fear of contracting the virus
According to Professor Patel, BAME communities are more likely to fall victim to Covid-19 because of their higher prevalence of underlying conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and in some cases sedentary lifetstyles. It is crucial for them to be encouraged to keep on top of their health. He continued “I am growingly concerned about any pre-existing and or long term health conditions that people in the community may ignore this year owing to fears of them contracting coronavirus. For example, under normal circumstances people would not usually hesitate to contact their pharmacist, GP or visit their local hospital, if they witnessed blood appearing in their urine, or had been feeling dizzy and light-headed for some time, or even running out of their medicines. I frequently hear people in the community brushing these symptoms under the carpet, stating that it is not causing them any immediate pain or problems and would manage until it does. But this fear of contracting the virus and not accessing the necessary help and support promptly can result in worsening of these symptoms and in some cases becoming very serious to treat. It is important therefore that patients should not ignore or delay accessing medical or health support in such instances and must get themselves seen to as soon as possible.
The upcoming Diwali festivities usually coincide with the flu season. This is the opportune time for community leaders, religious leaders in temples and places of worship, and pharmacists to come together to build a firm and robust network in driving a clear but simple message forward about Covid-19 and other such health complications.
We are living in unprecedented times and it is important we learn from the unfolding evidence and science, and act on it. Adopting a blame culture may only add to this Covid conundrum.”
Investing in pharmacy has never been more important
Part of this process also requires that the pharmacists are armed with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sufficient quantities of flu vaccines and importantly remunerated for a closer involvement and engagement with their local communities. Professor Patel has been championing for the provision of essential resources to the disposal of the pharmacists. He said, “These are the true soldiers on the ground who are so well placed to champion health promotion within the community whom they know best. Greater investment and incentives are needed to mobilise these community pharmacists in effectively reaching out to the vulnerable. 44% of pharmacists are from BAME backgrounds and a huge proportion of them are working in community pharmacy. With increased work-loads and short-staffing, their engagement levels with the community are undoubtedly compromised and they need to be better supported to provide more culturally acceptable care, and services tailored to the needs of the different communities.
“Most fundamentally, we have dealt with Covid-19 complications for almost six months now. We need to implement the vast knowledge and intelligence gathered around handling coronavirus and beyond as part of our regular and everyday pharmacy practice and at the same time in helping to address the wider issues of health inequalities. Thus, adequately and appropriately resourcing pharmacists is imperative in order to help in the prevention of a potential second wave of Covid-19.”
