OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
As this is a rapidly evolving situation, pharmacists and pharmacies should continue to care
for their patients in a manner that assures access and safety. Resources and content regarding
COVID- 19 provided for Oregon pharmacists with input from an Oregon statewide pharmacy
roundtable collection of employers, pharmacists, various other pharmacy professionals,
and input from the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.
-Implement and train staff on infection prevention practices in all pharmacy sites to maintain social distancing and disinfection routines to keep patients and staff safe
-Professional Volunteer Opportunities Health care workers in Oregon can support their community's response to COVID-19 by registering with SERV-OR and their local Medical Reserve Corps. To learn more and register click here.
-Stay informed with the local community and federal guidelines to help triage and assist patients to appropriate care locations and be able to answers patients' questions related to COVID-19.
-Oregon Health Authority has created the OHA Partner Toolkit to help older adults get COVID-19 vaccinations. The toolkit contains: A message from the OHA, Talking Points for Older Adults, Know Before You Go, FAQs, Template Email, Newsletter blurb, and Social cards/info graphic copy.
-Oregon Health Authority Get Vaccination Tool
-OHA COVID-19 Vaccine Pharmacy Protocol (updated 2/2/2021)
-OSU College of Pharmacy COVID-19 Resources for Providers Video
-OSU College of Pharmacy COVID-19 Resources for Spanish Speaking Patients Video
-OHA COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs in Spanish
-CDC What to Expect After the COVID-19 Vaccine in Spanish
-CDC Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Spanish
-CDC Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Spanish
-COVID-19 Pocket Aide
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national early warning system to detect possible safety problems in U.S.-licensed vaccines. VAERS is co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
-Online reporting form or pdf-fillable form
-YouTube video on how to fill out the form
-VAERS and COVID FAQ
In addition to being required in the COVID-19 Vaccine Pharmacy Protocol, OAR 855-019-0280(5) states: The pharmacist must report adverse events as required by the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and to the primary care provider as identified by the patient. Healthcare providers are required to report to VAERS the following adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination [under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)], and other adverse events if later revised by CDC:
-Vaccine administration errors, whether or not associated with an adverse event (AE)
Serious AEs regardless of causality. Serious AEs per FDA are defined as:
-Death;
-A life-threatening AE;
-Inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization;
-A persistent or significant incapacity or substantial disruption of the ability to conduct normal life functions;
-A congenital anomaly/birth defect;
-An important medical event that based on appropriate medical judgement may jeopardize the individual and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed above.
-Cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome
-Cases of COVID-19 that result in hospitalization or death
Healthcare providers are encouraged to report to VAERS any additional clinically significant AEs following vaccination, even if they are not sure if vaccination caused the event. Also report any additional select AEs and/or any revised safety reporting requirements per FDA’s conditions of authorized use of vaccine(s) throughout the duration of any COVID-19 Vaccine being authorized under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
It is the expectation of the Board of Pharmacy that pharmacy employers implement infection control practices in their pharmacies to protect workers and patients. Oregon Administrative Rule 855-041-1015 states that “Persons working in a pharmacy shall practice appropriate infection control.” During the declared Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak and per Executive Orders 20-10 and 20-12, pharmacists shall use professional judgment per individual circumstances and pharmacies should avoid offering routine services, such as vaccinations and blood pressure monitoring, that require person-to-person contact and are not required for the immediate health and safety of the individual.
CDC’s Considerations for Pharmacies During COVID-19 Pandemic (4/3/2020)
-Drive-thru, curbside delivery, home delivery, mailing
-For patient counseling, a verbal offer or providing an offer to counsel in writing (i.e., a telephone number where a pharmacist may be reached) is required in accordance with OAR 855-019-0230
COVID-19 is likely to become a prolonged emergency, and need to move from Division 007 emergency refills to Division 020 for Pharmacists to use the Continuation of Therapy protocol and other prescribing protocols to lower overall need for routine clinic/doc visit.
-Do what you can to reduce fax refill requests that can be managed at the pharmacy
-Discontinue all auto-faxes regarding proactive refill requests, if possible
-Medication availability is an ongoing concern (https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/drug-shortages)
On 6/15/2020, the FDA revoked the emergency use authorization (EUA) that allowed for chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate donated to the Strategic National Stockpile to be used to treat certain hospitalized patients with COVID-19 when a clinical trial was unavailable, or participation in a clinical trial was not feasible. The agency determined that the legal criteria for issuing an EUA are no longer met.
Based on its ongoing analysis of the EUA and emerging scientific data, the FDA determined that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 for the authorized uses in the EUA. Additionally, in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other potential serious side effects, the known and potential benefits of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine no longer outweigh the known and potential risks for the authorized use.
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and have symptoms, stay home; avoid close contact with others;
and contact your health care provider or an emergency medical care provider.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a
disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make
you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Click here for resources on how to manage anxiety & stress.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline call 1-800-273-8255 or chat online at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Oregon Health Authority – Crisis Lines
To connect with potential pharmacists or interns who may be under-employed and are willing to connect with employers for temporary work assignments, contact: paige.clark@oregonstate.edu
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the public health emergency in Oregon, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy is temporarily suspending the registration fees associated with the course "Emergency Preparedness and the Pharmacist" to make the material readily accessible to all Oregon pharmacists for 60 days. The college incurred costs of the technical build, the instructional design, and course launch and provision, at the direction of the OHA, and is pleased to be of service to the profession in this time of unprecedented emergency.
Here is the link to the material contained in the course, for your use, without CE:
However, if you choose to take the 3-hour course (2 hours law, 1-hour patient safety) and obtain CE, you may click on this link. The registration fee associated with the CE course itself serves to provide the CE processing fees at $11.67 per credit hour to the registrant.