Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Volume 18, Issue no. 1, DOI 10.18502/sjms.v18i1.12873 Production and Hosting by Knowledge E Letter COVID-19 Vaccine and Role of Community Pharmacists Mayyda Asif Bajwa1 and Kanwal Ashiq2* 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Forman Christine College University (FCCU) Lahore, Pakistan 2Faculty of Pharmacy, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan ORCID: Kanwal Ashiq: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-5147 Dear Editor, Over a year and a half ago, the very first case of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was reported, causing a global pandemic, that is, COVID-19. It came as a turning point, making scientists dig for maximum data on the virus and learn its management [1, 2]. In this while, some preventive measures like physical distancing and protective gears have become an essential part of daily life. One of the swift stratagems toward recov- ery is vaccination against COVID-19. Soon after discovering the genetic and pheno- typic structure of the coronavirus, vaccine production was uptaken by state-of-the-art labs and pharmaceutical companies globally on an immediate basis. As per WHO’s announcement on July 15, 2020, around 150 countries were tied up in the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) lead. It lent a means designed to ensure fair, speedy, and equitable COVID-19 vaccines to people worldwide. Such a move proved a way forward to betterment and success against disease. Yet, data on safety remains essen- tial and was derived from data available on earlier vaccine development campaigns [3]. Data on previous vaccines against infectious diseases reflect saving over 23 million people from 2011 to 2020. However, the success of vaccines relies on people’s accep- tance and compliance with vaccine regimens. Right from the first case of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with frontline workers, pharmacists testified for an active role in the delivery and supply of medications, counseling leading to the public’s understanding of the disease, testing patients, and recently in vaccine administration [4]. Around the globe, we see pharmacies following business models as per regional government law. The pharmacist’s role switched from the conventional community and product-focused practice to the patient-oriented role with coverage of clinical aspects in the recent past. Sophisticated setups with advanced facilities focus on providing customized therapy with a better insight into drug interaction [5–7]. How to cite this article: Mayyda Asif Bajwa and Kanwal Ashiq* (2023) “COVID-19 Vaccine and Role of Community Pharmacists,” Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 18, Issue no. 1, pages 121–123. DOI 10.18502/sjms.v18i1.12873 Page 121 Corresponding Author: Kanwal Ashiq; email: kan- wal.ashiq@superior.edu.pk Received 17 February 2022 Accepted 31 January 2023 Published 31 March 2023 Production and Hosting by Knowledge E Bajwa and Ashiq. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited. Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Nazik Elmalaika Obaid Seid Ahmed Husain, MD, M.Sc, MHPE, PhD. http://www.knowledgee.com https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Bajwa and Ashiq With COVID-19 vaccination, the role of community pharmacists can be availed in making the immunization process controlled and more effective. The pharmacist’s posi- tion can be seen in retail setups and even vaccination centers, mimicking vaccination with tetanus and influenza viruses. The 2017 CDC data revealed that the rate of adult vaccine escalated from 23% to 28%. Also, the speed of vaccines increased amongst people aged 65, with pharmacists rendering immunization. It also helps lower the rate of hospitalization and death rates, helping reduce the rate of medical care [8]. The last few years have also established the pharmacist’s role in aiding the flu shots; this has allowed patients with vaccination at the nearest point, thus saving money. This service at the end of the pharmacist can be extended over remote areas, extending the coverage. This entire model can be replicated to provide vaccine shots during the pandemic, utilize pharmacists’ expertise, and get better public health services. Moreover, it builds up a cycle of trust among the public and pharmacists by being available for guidance and counseling, especially with the urgency and necessity of vaccinating people around the globe against COVID-19. The proactive role of the community pharmacist will become appreciable with the involvement in eradicating the life-threatening virus, provided people give away reluctance in this matter [9, 10]. Acknowledgements None. Competing Interests No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. References [1] Ashiq, K., Bajwa, M. A., & Ashiq, S. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on pharmacy education. Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18(2), 122. [2] Ashiq, K., Naureen, B., & Ashiq, S. (2021). nMetal complexes and their potential therapeutic role against COVID-19: Recent developments in drug designing. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences, 16(4), 540–545. [3] Su, S., Du, L., & Jiang, S. (2020). Learning from the past: Development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 19, 211–219. DOI 10.18502/sjms.v18i1.12873 Page 122 Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Bajwa and Ashiq [4] Haynes, B. F., Corey, L., Fernandes, P., Gilbert, P. B., Hotez, P. J., Rao, S., Santos, M. R., Schuitemaker, H., Watson, M., & Arvin, A. (2020). Prospects for a safe COVID-19 vaccine. Science Translational Medicine, 12(568), 1–12. [5] Babar, Z. U. D. (2021). Ten recommendations to improve pharmacy practice in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 14, 1–5. [6] Khan, N., McGarry, K., Naqvi, A. A., Iqbal, M. S., & Haider, Z. (2020). Pharmacists’ viewpoint towards their professional role in healthcare system: A survey of hospital settings of Pakistan. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1–15. [7] Naughton, C. A. (2018). Patient-centered communication. Pharmacy, 6(1), 18. [8] Ali, E., Thulasika, P., Sarah, A., Tran, C. (2020). Pharmacists and COVID-19. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 3, 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020- 00241-3 [9] Ashiq, K., Ashiq, S., Bajwa, M. A., Tanveer, S., & Qayyum, M. (2020). Knowledge, attitude and practices among the inhabitants of Lahore, Pakistan towards the COVID- 19 pandemic: An immediate online based cross-sectional survey while people are under the lockdown. Bangladesh Journal Medical Sciences, 2020, S69–S76. [10] Bajwa, M. A., & Ashiq, K. (2020). The COVID-19 crisis and supportive role of pharmacists in cancer patients. Journal of Dow University Health Sciences, 14(2), 95–96. DOI 10.18502/sjms.v18i1.12873 Page 123 Dear Editor, Acknowledgements Competing Interests References