Pharmacists’ role in infectious pandemics: illustration with COVID-19

Earl, Grace; Cillessen, Lisa M.; Lyons-Burney, Heather; Gubbins, Paul O.; Mina, Andrew W.; Silverman, David M.; Silvestri, Carmela M.; Leibfried, Maria

In 2020 pharmacists around the globe were faced with overwhelming challenges due to the global coronavirus pandemic. This chapter describes salient issues impacting pharmacists’ response to the COVID-19 infectious disease pandemic. The chapter emphasizes the response in the United States and within regions to inform the readers of principles related to the scope of practice and practice in the community, point-of-care testing, critical care and health systems, and long-term care. Pharmacy educators responded to graduate essential healthcare workers on time. The chapter ends following the lead of World Health Organization Director-General advising “first, prepare and be ready; second, detect, protect, and treat; third, reduce transmission; and fourth, innovate and learn.”