CDC Updates Guidance for Pharmacies and Pharmacists
The CDC has updated its guidance for pharmacies and pharmacy personnel. As the CDC states: “This guidance applies to all pharmacy staff to minimize their risk of exposure to the virus and reduce the risk for customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a vital part of the healthcare system, pharmacies play an important role in providing medicines, therapeutics, vaccines, and critical health services to the public. Ensuring continuous function of pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic is important. During the pandemic, pharmacy staff can minimize their risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 and reduce the risk for customers by using the principles of infection prevention and control and social distancing.”
Key changes and additions to CDC guidance include:
- Everyone entering the pharmacy should wear a face covering, regardless of symptoms. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should always wear a face mask while they are in the pharmacy for source control.
- Postpone and reschedule delivery of some routine clinical preventive services, such as adult immunizations, which require face-to-face encounters.
- Special considerations for clinics that are co-located in pharmacies.
- More information about cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and included a link to more information about how to clean/disinfect.
For NASPA’s compilation of state actions related to the pandemic, click here.