June 29, 2020: NPhA and other national pharmacy organizations send joint letter to HHS requesting authorization under the PREP Act for licensed pharmacists to order and administer all FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines, any state and local prohibitions notwithstanding. 

May 19, 2020: HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar II has issued a statement clarifying that pharmacists across the country, under the PREP Act, are not restricted by state and local authorities in their ability to order and administer COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

May 9, 2020: FDA's FAQ section has been updated to acknowledge the role of pharmacists in COVID-19 testing. Changes stem from the collaborative work of NPhA and other national pharmacy organizations.

April 22, 2020: CDC highlights the effects of COVID-19 in racial and ethnic minority groups.    

April 9, 2020: HHS authorizes licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests. Read the guidance here. 

April 6, 2020: Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Added to HEROES Act of 2020. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have been added to recently introduced legislation that would, if enacted, create a federal tax withholding holiday for health professionals and first responders who continue to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations (HEROES) Act of 2020, recently introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), originally applied only to physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, hospital and medical facility support staff, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, corrections officers, and law enforcement officers. More information on the proposed legislation is available here. 

April 3, 2020: NPhA has joined with other national pharmacy associations to issue a set of joint policy recommendations to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the joint statement here. 

NPhA continues to monitor federal, state, and local guidance regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Challenges associated with the COVID-19 virus continue to evolve throughout our country and world. There is great concern for the spread through contact and the need for greater social distance. As healthcare providers, it is important for us to stay vigilant in educating ourselves broadly about the virus, keeping abreast on its current status daily so that we may be able to accurately educate the general population, dispel potential myths and protect ourselves and others.

According to the CDC, our current goal should be to slow the transmission of disease and in particular to protect:

• Individuals at increased risk for severe illness, including older adults and persons of any age with underlying health conditions.
• The healthcare infrastructure workforces.

The CDC provides detailed information for healthcare professionals on how to best protect ourselves when working with patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, along with general ways for us all to protect ourselves and our communities at the following website: