SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY COPHS TRAINING PHARMACY WORKFORCE FOR COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 12, 2021

Contact:
Misty M. Stutz, PharmD
Dean and Professor
Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
502-413-8964
mstutz@sullivan.edu

LOUISVILLE, KY – As the federal government begins distributing the COVID-19 vaccine directly to pharmacies, the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (SUCOPHS) is training the pharmacists and technicians who will administer the vaccine.

In the past few months, more than 60 registered local pharmacists have completed the training through the College’s Center for Health & Wellness. SUCOPHS is the only American Pharmacists Association (APhA) immunization training site in the state of Kentucky.

“Since most Americans live within five miles of a retail pharmacy, this will greatly enhance vaccine accessibility,” said Sullivan University Center for Health & Wellness Director Katie Leslie, PhD. “Faculty and administrators at SUCOPHS have anticipated this move for months and have actively been working to ensure Kentucky’s pharmacy workforce is ready for this massive immunization initiative.”

In response to the public health emergency of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) added pharmacy technicians to the list of those they recommend administer immunizations to persons three years and older. Many states, including Kentucky, have agreed with this recommendation through executive regulation, which allows technicians to administer immunizations during this public health emergency.

“Faculty from the Center for Health & Wellness quickly developed a Pharmacy Technician Immunization Administration Training that meets both HHS and state guidelines,” Dr. Leslie said. “Since its launch in mid-January, over 70 certified technicians have completed or are currently enrolled in the training. “

In an effort to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, this week the Biden-Harris Administration will begin distributing an estimated 1 million vaccine doses to 21 national pharmacy partner and networks of independent pharmacies representing more than 40,000 pharmacy locations across the country.

 SUCOPHS students and staff have already been on the front lines of the pandemic. More than 50 volunteer pharmacy students have helped deliver COVID-19 vaccines throughout Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana.

As additional phases of the vaccine are rolled out and more people need the vaccine, SUCOPHS students, faculty and staff will continue volunteering.

“It is wonderful to think that not only are SUCOPHS faculty and students volunteering their time to put an end to this pandemic, but they are also extending their reach as they educate others to be part of the solution,” said Misty Stutz, PharmD, a professor and dean of the SUCOPHS. “The Pharmacists oath states, ‘I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns.’”

“It is clear that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians take this oath seriously as so many have taken advantage of these trainings and are preparing themselves to end the suffering this virus has caused,” Dr. Stutz said.

About Sullivan University

Sullivan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Sullivan University or visit them online at www.sacscoc.org.

The University offers numerous certificates, diplomas, and degrees in career-oriented programs, ranging from business, pharmacy, human resources, I.T. and cyber security, supply-chain management, culinary and baking and pastry arts, hospitality studies, conflict management, nursing, allied health sciences, HVAC-R, interior design, and legal studies. Sullivan University has campuses in Louisville and Lexington, an extension in Fort Knox on the U.S. Army Post, and a Learning Center in Louisa. Sullivan University also has many programs available partially or wholly online. For more information, visit www.sullivan.edu.