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Alyssa Modic, PharmD, emphasizes the importance of evidence-based advocacy and continuous education as vaccine recommendations evolve.
In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Alyssa Modic, PharmD, senior clinical pharmacy specialist at UPMC Health Plan, explained the pharmacist’s responsibility to remain current on evolving CDC guidance and product availability for COVID-19 vaccines as the respiratory virus season approaches.
Modic stressed that pharmacists serve as highly accessible resources for patients and should continue advocating for vaccination based on science and evidence. She also underscored the pride she takes in the profession’s growth and its essential role in advocating for public health and advancing patient care.
Pharmacy Times: Moving to COVID-19, how are you preparing for the upcoming respiratory virus season, especially regarding the latest changes to CDC COVID-19 vaccine guidance and product availability?
Modic: It’s important to continue following the science and encourage patients to stay informed and talk to their health care providers about their questions or concerns. Regarding vaccine recommendations, including COVID-19, as scientific and medical professionals, all we can do is continue to advocate and use our voices to promote vaccination and stress disease prevention. Pharmacists are such an important and accessible resource, so it’s critical that we stay on top of the news and dynamic changes taking place at the government level. Know the facts—and the science—and continue to advocate for public health and the well-being of our patients by making decisions based on evidence-based data.
Pharmacy Times: What advice would you give to pharmacists looking to expand their impact in vaccine delivery and education, especially as new products and recommendations continue to emerge?
Modic: Stay on top of emerging vaccines and who they’re recommended for, and continue to educate. Review not only CDC guidance but also recommendations from the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Pharmacists Association, and the World Health Organization. By seeing what different expert panels recommend, pharmacists can better guide patients and help them make the best decisions for their health.
Pharmacy Times: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Modic: Yes. Pharmacists play such a key role as some of the most trusted health care professionals for patients. Staying on top of clinical guidelines, infectious disease trends, and vaccine recommendations allows us to advocate for our patients and for our profession.
It makes me proud to see how far we’ve come, and I’m excited to see where we can go to best serve our patients.
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