While students graduating next semester from UB's School of Pharmacy will be trained to administer flu immunizations to the general public, they will not have the chance. New York State does not allow it.
Under current New York State law, the right to immunize against influenza and pneumonia is reserved for medical practitioners such as nurses and physicians. However, the Pharmacists' Society of the State of New York and several of its affiliates would like to see this restriction removed.
The New York State legislature will consider a bill this year that would make it legal for pharmacists to administer influenza and pneumococcal shots.
Karl Fiebelkorn, chairman of the Pharmacists' Association of Western New York and assistant dean for Student Affairs and Professional Relations at UB's School of Pharmacy, is one proponent for changing the law. He said the main goal of the pharmacy immunization bill in question, Bill A05582, is to make the New York population healthier.
"Our student population, starting last year, is qualified to immunize; we are the only pharmacy school in New York that's doing this," Fiebelkorn said. "New York is one of the few states that does not allow pharmacists to immunize."
Students earn a pharmacy doctorate after completing the six-year program at UB. As part of the program, all students go through approved training from the Centers for Disease Control, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, in addition to receiving a Certificate of Immunization. The certificate allows them to administer flu immunizations in parts of the United States where pharmacists are allowed to conduct the procedure.
According to the Pharmacists' Society of the State of New York, 33 states across the nation already offer pharmacists the option of vaccinating adult patients.
"It's worked well in other states; why can't it work here?" Fiebelkorn said.
Since she will be qualified upon completion of the program, Heather Strickland, a third-year pharmacy student, said she thinks the choice should be available.
"We get trained in it," Strickland said. "It's silly that you have to go to another state to do it."
According to the Centers for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63.8 percent of New York residents 65 and older were vaccinated against influenza in 1999, ranking New York 41st in immunizations, below many states that permit pharmacy vaccinations.
Fiebelkorn said benefits of pharmacists vaccinating patients could include the state spending less health care dollars, lower taxes for New York residents, and a healthier, and therefore more productive, workforce.
Due to the ease of access and extended hours of many pharmacies, Fiebelkorn said a pharmacy "is a natural location" to conduct immunizations.
According to Fiebelkorn, age and chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and asthma put people at higher risk for serious illness and death related to the flu.
"The people who most need immunization are the elderly and anybody with a chronic disease," said Fiebelkorn.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the bill did not pass this year," said Nicole Paolini, clinical assistant professor at UB and co-faculty with Rite Aid Pharmacy. "(However,) in five years, if we weren't immunizing, I would be surprised."
According to Fiebelkorn, various nurses' and physicians' societies are opposed the bill due to concerns over losing patients to pharmacies, whose staffs may not be adequately trained.
Paolini said the overall goal of the bill is to help those who cannot afford to see a physician in the first place.
"We're talking about the people who don't have health care at all," Paolini said. "That's the type of patient who's dying every year; the patient who never would have had the opportunity to get that shot if it wasn't offered by a pharmacist."
Suzanne Dickerson, assistant professor for UB's School of Nursing, presented some other possible reasons behind the vaccination debate.
"The issues are not about the capability of giving injections, but about the scope of practice, the workload and economics," said Dickerson.
While UB pharmacy students may receive proper education for immunization, Dickerson said practicality should also play a role in the decision. According to Dickerson, pharmacists already face great demands on the job.
"A (pharmacy doctorate) is trained for immunization, but does a pharmacist really have time to administer immunizations?" Dickerson said.
Strickland said she saw both pros and cons to pharmacy vaccinations.
"A pharmacist is so convenient, but it would add on to the difficulty of the job," said Strickland.
Tracy Goodwin, a third-year pharmacy student, agreed. "It's a good idea to have the option."
According to Fiebelkorn, current success in other states should be indicative of the positive effects the proposed bill could have on New York.
"(In other states) when it really came to fruition, people weren't losing their jobs, and more people were accessing needed care," said Fiebelkorn.
