Abstract
In Japan, the revised Immunization Law was enacted in December 2020, and municipalities have promoted a free vaccination project against COVID-19 with the aid of upper prefectural governments under the management of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. To support prompt vaccination for residents over 65 years old, Kawachinagano City Pharmaceutical Association supplied a Prevaccination Screening Questionnaire to all pharmacies in Kawachinagano in cooperation with the local governments and medical associations. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the handling of questionnaire forms at pharmacies and the content of consultation by residents regarding vaccination, and investigated the significance of community pharmacy in regional medical activities by analyzing the responses. By the end of May 2021, the number of questionnaire forms provided to residents from pharmacies of the Kawachinagano City Pharmaceutical Association was approximately 3,000, which was attributable to the efforts of each pharmacist in almost all pharmacies to individually offer sincere consultation services to residents. In addition, residents were markedly concerned about pharmacotherapy, with the frequency of consultation by residents being higher about “treatment details, including drug use” and “adverse reactions of the vaccine.” Our study revealed that community pharmacies of the Kawachinagano City Pharmaceutical Association largely contributed to the smooth implementation of vaccination by performing routine work originally dealt to the local governments and medical institutions, which strongly suggests that community pharmacies fulfill their mission corresponding to social needs even during a pandemic.
