Pharmacies Provide Vital Access to Immunizations, Injectable Medications

Community pharmacies are increasingly bridging the accessibility gap for younger and urban populations, providing a vital pathway for immunizations and injectable medications long after traditional clinics have closed their doors, according to a study in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.¹

“Taken together, the environment within which people access community pharmacy services such as vaccinations has changed,” wrote the authors of the study. “Awareness of patient behaviors and trends related to accessing care at pharmacies can support planning efforts by pharmacies and by policymakers to ensure care options are available and accessible when needed.”

A new analysis of over 1.2 million injection appointments at Canadian community pharmacies reveals that pharmacies are filling a critical gap in primary care by providing services during hours when traditional clinics are closed. According to the research, 27% of all injection appointments occurred during “off-clinic” hours, which include weekends, weekday evenings, and statutory holidays.¹

This trend was particularly pronounced among chain pharmacies, where 34% of injections were administered outside of traditional business hours. The study highlights that younger patients, urban residents, and males are the most likely to seek these flexible scheduling options, which are often unavailable at traditional medical offices.

READ MORE: Navigating the Pharmacist Vaccine Reimbursement Paradox

Although the majority of these appointments were for respiratory vaccines, the scope of pharmacy-based injections is rapidly expanding to include life-critical medications like long-acting injectables (LAIs). For patients with mental health disorders such as schizophrenia or substance use disorders, LAIs can be the difference between stability and crisis.^1-3

These medications allow for a slow release into the bloodstream over weeks or months, significantly improving adherence compared with daily oral tablets. Research indicates a 78% adherence rate for LAI antipsychotics when administered by community pharmacists, who are uniquely positioned to overcome barriers like doctor’s office availability and the social stigma often associated with mental health treatment.³

The necessity of this expanded scope was tragically illustrated by a case in Maryland where a young man died from a substance use disorder after being unable to find a provider to administer a prescribed injectable in a timely manner. This event helped catalyze legislative changes in states like Maryland to authorize pharmacists to administer a broader range of maintenance injectables.²

Although amendments to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act expanded authority during the pandemic, practitioners still face a burdensome patchwork of state-level regulations regarding vaccine types and patient age limits. Organizations like the National Association of Chain Drug Stores note that while 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy, antiquated restrictions continue to prevent pharmacists from fully meeting public health needs.^4,5

According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, successfully integrating these services into a practice requires sophisticated business planning and a deep understanding of complex billing landscapes. Community pharmacies must navigate the divide between prescription and medical benefits, often requiring the use of third-party intermediaries to manage medical claims for vaccines and injectables that are not covered under standard pharmacy benefits.⁶

Despite these operational challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online scheduling tools and proved that including retail pharmacists in public health models can reduce the time to achieve national vaccination coverage by as much as 7 weeks.^1,5

To sustain this momentum, pharmacists must advocate for recognition as essential primary care providers and for a further expanded scope of practice. By offering “just-in-time” ordering and convenient evening or weekend appointments, pharmacies can ensure that vital immunizations and injectable medications remain accessible to a modern workforce.^1,4,6

The future of pharmacy practice lies in this transition from simple distribution to becoming a primary destination for clinical administration, patient education, and long-term medication adherence.^4,6

“Approximately one-third of the injection appointments booked at Canadian community pharmacies included in this analysis were for days and times when office-based care providers such as primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and public health nurses are generally unavailable,” concluded the authors of the current study.¹ “Future research should explore whether this accessibility and convenience is associated with improved vaccination rates or adherence to injectable medications and the potential impact of policy change to support pharmacies with expanding their injection service availability over broader operating hours while maximizing the scope of practice of all pharmacy team members.”

READ MORE: Immunization Resource Center

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REFERENCES

1. Houle SKD, Bhaidani S, Rehmanji T, et al. Administration of vaccines and injectable medications beyond 9 to 5: a cross-sectional analysis of over 1.2 million injection appointments scheduled at Canadian community pharmacies. JAPhA. 2026;66(3):103079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2026.103079

2. Newman GF. Expanding the range and scope of long-acting injectables. University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. April 15, 2024. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://news.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/expanding-the-range-and-scope-of-long-acting-injectables/

3. Prosser M. Long-acting Injectables: What is the pharmacist’s role? Pharmcon freeCE. September 25, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://www.freece.com/blog/long-acting-injectables-pharmacists-role/

4. DeMaagd G, Pugh A. Pharmacists’ expanding role in immunization practices. US Pharmacist. October 18, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pharmacists-expanding-role-in-immunization-practices

5. Accelerating access to immunizations through community pharmacies. NACDS. January 2019. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://www.nacds.org/pdfs/pharmacy/2020/NACDS-Pharmacist-Immunization-Authority-Background.pdf

6. Schaefer B, Kaefer T, Ayers M, et al. A guide to implementing vaccine services in community pharmacy. NCPA. 2021. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://ncpa.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/2021_NCPAPfizerVaccinationBooklet_Final.pdf