For those in states with intern immunization allowed

[deleted205891]

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How do you feel the legality of interns immunizing impacts pharmacy practice in your state? Do you see interns immunizing, provided they have the appropriate certifications a good thing or a bad thing?

Also, have the chains found ways to pervert this yet? Force every intern to immunize? Increase quotas?

Just curious, since this is a big issue in PA.

 

[rxlea]

How do you feel the legality of interns immunizing impacts pharmacy practice in your state? Do you see interns immunizing, provided they have the appropriate certifications a good thing or a bad thing?

Also, have the chains found ways to pervert this yet? Force every intern to immunize? Increase quotas?

Just curious, since this is a big issue in PA.

Well, Arizona just passed a law a couple weeks ago stating that interns can immunize but we have to go through an 8 hour training session before the school year is over so we can do it. I will let you know how that all pans out. Personally, I see it as a good thing right now...however, I am not sure how the chains are going to exploit intern labor with immunizing as of yet since no interns in the state of Arizona can do it until we all go through the training.

 

[CUpharmD2013]

I work for CVS in MI. I think that it's perfectly fine as long as we have the required training. I particularly enjoy it because it makes me feel more like a professional and gives you a little more personal time with the patient. As interns, we weren't given any kind of quota, nor are we required to be trained. I chose to do it because I knew it would increase my skillset but also because it qualified for 1 credit towards my program. Plus, I also got to stab my father-in-law in the arm

During flu shot season, my PICs would set up "flu shot clinics" during my shifts which never really led to much. The most that I ever did was like 3 or 4 in a 5 hour shift. Our supervisor had an idea to have me sit at the front of the store one day and advertise them. The result of that? 1 shot over an 8 hour shift. Needless to say, that idea was squashed. All in all I think it's a great idea for interns to be able to perform this function as long as it is not abused.

 

[Sparda29]

In the stupid ass-backward state of New York, interns still cannot immunize. Even the pharmacy immunizer provision is going to expire in 2013-2014 and we gotta fight to just keep that. I'd rather be doing vaccinations all day long instead of helping fill prescriptions. I don't know why the chains aren't jumping on board to help advocate for this. It would be perfect for them.

Instead of having 2 pharmacists (one to fill and one to immunize), you just gotta have some clerks, a tech, and the pharmacist to spew out Rxs as fast as possible, with the intern immunizing.

 

[diastole]

In my state, by the time we get training, most people have had their flu shots. I'm certified but I haven't actually done any except on my partner during training. I wish we were trained at the beginning of the year so we could practice more. We have a homeless immunization project in the fall that I'll finally get to do. Sounds interesting but I think it is outside. Since I'm a desert dweller now, I'm a real wimp in the cold.

 

[Farmercyst]

In my state, by the time we get training, most people have had their flu shots. I'm certified but I haven't actually done any except on my partner during training. I wish we were trained at the beginning of the year so we could practice more. We have a homeless immunization project in the fall that I'll finally get to do. Sounds interesting but I think it is outside. Since I'm a desert dweller now, I'm a real wimp in the cold.

Our immunization training is the first 6 weeks or so of class. All 180+ students must do at least 4 immunizations in the general public before passing "Pharmacy Practice I". As far as "exploiting" is concerned, I figure it's utilizing available resources. Depends on what connotation you want to give it. If you bothered going through training (mandatory or not) no point in not being able to use the training. As far as newer states go, I'm not sure how it works, but interns in CA can't immunize unless the precepting pharmacist is also trained. If it's the same elsewhere you'd have to worry about your pharmacist being trained before you'd have to worry about being "exploited". I once refused to immunize a 12 year old because the immunization training was for ages 14 and up and the supervising pharmacist on shift was not immunization trained.

 

[type b pharmD]

We get immunization certified in summer after p1 year, the school pays for it and puts on a class that satisfies all of the official regulatory requirements. I've immunized a handful of people at my IPPE sites because I expressed interest and because it was nice to be able to save my pharmacist some effort, but nothing beyond that. It's a cool skill to be able to have, in my book, I dont know how i'd feel about being an immunizer for 8 hour long shifts if I worked as a retail intern though.. I feel like that would take away from my ability to learn the flow of the store and how to be a retail pharmacist

 

[owlegrad]

We get immunization certified in summer after p1 year, the school pays for it and puts on a class that satisfies all of the official regulatory requirements. I've immunized a handful of people at my IPPE sites because I expressed interest and because it was nice to be able to save my pharmacist some effort, but nothing beyond that. It's a cool skill to be able to have, in my book, I dont know how i'd feel about being an immunizer for 8 hour long shifts if I worked as a retail intern though.. I feel like that would take away from my ability to learn the flow of the store and how to be a retail pharmacist

I doubt that very much. 😉

 

[type b pharmD]

I doubt that very much. 😉

I was saying that in terms of , it does not cost anythng additional out of pocket for us. Of course it's included in tuition i figured that went without saying

 

[owlegrad]

I was saying that in terms of , it does not cost anythng additional out of pocket for us. Of course it's included in tuition i figured that went without saying

Maybe I am just in a mood, but those two statements do not seem equivalent to me. Don't mind me though, I think I am just feeling argumetitive today.

 

[nafcillin]

Maybe I am just in a mood, but those two statements do not seem equivalent to me. Don't mind me though, I think I am just feeling argumetitive today.

 

[CUpharmD2013]

I was saying that in terms of , it does not cost anythng additional out of pocket for us. Of course it's included in tuition i figured that went without saying

Why pay for it yourself when you can get your employer to pay for it and have it count as school credit. 👍

 

[UES Girl]

We got immunization training during first quarter of the first year in the fall so right in the midst of the flu season. As soon as I got my intern license, I was immunizing people - we have plenty of opportunities to volunteer and immunize too. For example, I did one of those city wide immunizations clinics during H1N 1 craze, very rewarding experience.

As far as legality, what would be the difference in the quality of administering immunizations between intern and pharmacist immunizing ? It's just a new set if skills you are learning that has little or nothing to do with the rest of the schooling. I am very surprised some states dont allow interns to immunize.