ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following statement today on behalf of CEO B. Douglas Hoey in response to President Biden’s “Path out of the Pandemic” plan:

B. Douglas Hoey

“Community pharmacy has been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Local pharmacies have administered tens of millions of doses of vaccines, in many cases to communities without another readily accessible health care provider.

“We’ve been proud to have worked with the administration and Congress to expand the role of local pharmacists and the scope of their abilities as health care providers. And we are highly encouraged by several elements in the president’s latest plan. Authorization for pharmacists to order and administer select COVID-19 therapeutics, including monoclonal antibody therapy, is an important measure that will save lives. The expansion of testing to 10,000 additional pharmacies is a potentially important measure, but it’s critical that patients can access their independent pharmacy for testing services. And, independent pharmacies are more than ready and able to administer millions of doses of the vaccine boosters once they are approved.

“As the president made clear, this fight isn’t over. We’re at a critical point and bold action is necessary. Independent pharmacists are in this fight until we defeat the virus.”