In Case You Missed It: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing Underscores Power of Pharmacy, Explains the Importance of Leveraging Trusted, Accessible Healthcare Destinations and Professionals to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Uptake

Pharmacies and pharmacists continue to play a vital role in getting shots to arms and urging those individuals who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated.

On Wednesday, May 26, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled “A Shot at Normalcy: Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence” – which followed the Biden Administration’s announcement the day prior that 50% of all U.S. adults have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The hearing centered on the importance of a community-based approach to advancing COVID-19 vaccine confidence and underscored the trust of pharmacists and other healthcare providers – particularly when it comes to increasing vaccine confidence.

To kick off the virtual Subcommittee hearing, Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) and Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO-01) noted the myriad strategies and incentives in place to help address safety concerns and misinformation, bust myths and ultimately boost vaccine uptake so that the nation can achieve President Joe Biden’s goal of administering at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of U.S. adults by July 4.

Of critical importance, the witnesses, Subcommittee members and Committee members who participated in the meeting focused on one key idea: Ensuring equitable access to trusted community sites with the help of trusted community messengers is vital to building COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake across all communities.

In describing the need for trusted messengers – such as local pharmacists – to meet Americans where they are, Subcommittee Ranking Member Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) said:

“We can find innovative ways to bring vaccines to the people through mobile vaccination clinics. Public health practitioners should continue collaborating with healthcare providers, pharmacies, employers, faith leaders and other community partners to identify and address barriers to COVID-19 vaccinations in rural areas and other communities.”

Similarly, Saad Omer, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., M.P.H., F.I.D.S.A., director of the Yale Institute for Global Health at Yale University and a witness at the Subcommittee hearing, explained the high level of trust vaccine-hesitant individuals place in healthcare professionals, such as pharmacists:

“Healthcare providers are the most trusted source of vaccine information, even among those who are highly hesitant. A strong endorsement by a healthcare provider is a consistent predicator of vaccine acceptance.”

Congressman John Joyce (R-PA-13), a physician and Subcommittee member, emphasized the relationship that exists between an individual and their pharmacist, and the critical role that trusted healthcare providers play in addressing patients’ COVID-19 vaccine concerns:

“Every American who wants a vaccine should be able to get one, and this choice must remain between an individual and their doctor and pharmacist. Alongside other doctors in Congress I even encouraged every American to talk to their own doctor or healthcare provider or pharmacist and discuss the vaccine.”

Finally, Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA-01), a pharmacist and Committee member, illustrated pharmacies’ critical role in ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and other pharmacist-provided services, saying:

“Ninety-five percent of all Americans live within five miles of a pharmacist. They’re the most accessible healthcare professionals in America.”

Leading up to the hearing, NACDS, pharmacy advocates and allied organization, the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, showcased pharmacy’s commitment to fostering COVID-19 vaccine confidence through a coordinated Twitter campaign.

NACDS’ social posts targeted at the 19 Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee members

The social posts featured NACDS’ ad, “It’s Time,” and emphasized that pharmacists and mayors are among some of the most highly trusted community messengers helping to encourage COVID-19 vaccines.

NACDS has been collaborating with the National Forum and mayors nationwide to encourage vaccinations. As part of this ongoing initiative, mayors across the country are releasing PSAs urging members of their communities to join with them in receiving their COVID vaccine. Prior to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing, National Forum shared these PSAs with Subcommittee members through targeted Tweets.

In fact, actor Nick Offerman, who served as a witness during the Subcommittee hearing on May 26, showed his support for pharmacist-provided COVID-19 vaccinations on Twitter with an image of himself sporting a Walgreens “Flu Fighter” Band-Aid.

Actor Nick Offerman received his first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a Walgreens pharmacy. Offerman shared his “post-vaccine” picture on Twitter on April 3.