The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy have released two maps that highlight community pharmacies offering immunizations.
The first interactive map, the October announcement from the APhA said, “will help patients find vaccinations close to home at easily accessible community pharmacies.” The second map “allows health-care professionals and public health planners to explore geographic areas and vulnerable populations where pharmacists can be partners in expanding immunization efforts.
“These maps will be updated regularly to reflect pharmacy location changes to ensure accurate information.”
“Our hope is that patients and public health champions will use these maps to learn how to access and engage pharmacists in efforts to expand equitable access to vaccinations,” said Lucas Berenbrok, PharmD, MS, associate professor of pharmacy and therapeutics in the school of pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh.
“We know that many patients need to catch up on their routine and seasonal vaccines,” said Brigid Groves, PharmD, MS, vice president of professional affairs for APhA. “We want patients, health-care professionals, and public health champions to have an easy-to-use pharmacy vaccine locator that shares details like languages spoken, appointment or walk-in basis, and directions to the pharmacy.”
These maps are the latest collaborations from the APhA and the University of Pittsburgh pharmacy. Earlier map tools showed pharmacy closures from 2014 through 2024 “that spotlighted growing concerns that community pharmacy access was decreasing nationwide,” the announcement noted.
