ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A new survey released today by the National Community Pharmacists Association shows a strong preference among Americans to receive the COVID-19 vaccines from a trusted health care provider, such as their local pharmacist or doctor.

B. Douglas Hoey

According to a survey of 1,390 adults conducted by Public Policy Polling from Feb. 26-27,nearly 4 in 10 Americans say their local pharmacist is their first or second choice to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 4 percent prefer to be immunized at a mass event, such as the efforts taking place in many states where thousands of people wait in parking lots or sports stadiums to be vaccinated by public health officials.

“Pharmacies are being underutilized,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey.“Millions of Americans would prefer to get immunized by a local health care provider, like their pharmacist. Community pharmacies have the capacity and the ability to vaccinate many more people than they are currently able to because of the supply and pharmacy allocation issues.”

Twenty-six percent of adults surveyed said they have already received one of the COVID-19 vaccines. Another 41 percent say they plan to be immunized as soon as they are eligible. Twenty-five percent say they are not getting the vaccine, a challenge for health officials that local pharmacists can also help overcome.

“Nearly 40 percent of Americans are already getting vaccinated for the flu by their local pharmacist. Many Americans also rely on their pharmacist to treat minor ailments. The fact is that Americans trust their pharmacist,” said Hoey. “Pharmacists, because they are trusted, are in a much better position to counsel people who are reluctant to take the COVID-19 vaccines.”