A Shot of Confidence: How Our Alumni at the Community Pharmacies Are Making Vaccines Accessible Across Singapore
Bringing flu shots closer to the community: MOH’s new sandbox initiative
On 28 October 2024, Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) started the Community Pharmacist Influenza Vaccination Sandbox initiative to expand the availability of influenza vaccinations within the community. The program complements the services offered by primary care providers by enabling eligible individuals to receive their flu shots at community pharmacies, increasing accessibility and convenience for the public. This initiative aims to increase influenza vaccination rates, enhance preventive healthcare, and support primary care providers in the delivery of patient care. The initiative has been very well received by the public. Within the first month of its launch, more than 530 flu jabs were administered, far exceeding the projected 200 jabs for the trial.
Three of our alumni pharmacists, Ms Chung Wing Lam (Class of ‘09, Senior Principal Clinical Pharmacist, Watson’s Personal Care Stores Pte Ltd), Ms Wu Weijie (Class of ‘17, Senior Pharmacist, Guardian Health and Beauty) and Ms Carolyn Chan (Class of ‘15, Area Manager, Unity Pharmacy), are blazing the trails, championing this sandbox initiative at the community pharmacies. We had the privilege to hear about their journey post-graduation, views and hopes for pharmacists’ role in vaccination.
Ms Chan conducting a pre-vaccination screening with Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, before administering his flu vaccine at launch of the sandbox initiative
(Photo taken on 28 October 2024)
Meet the community pharmacist influenza vaccination sandbox team
Though they share a common graduation point from NUS Pharmacy, each of them has taken distinct journeys shaped by their own experiences and passion.
Their journeys into immunisation began with participation in the NUS and APhA’s Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Certificate Training Program. NUS Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is a licensed partner to offer this training program, which is developed by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to train and equip pharmacists with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to provide immunisation services.
Upon completing her pre-registration training, Ms Chung joined Watsons as a full-time pharmacist. She took on several responsibilities, including Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC), regulatory affairs, preceptorship, and diabetes care service. She is grateful to have completed MSc (Clin Pharm Prac), Grad Cert (Adv Pharm Prac), BCPS, BCGP along the way with support from the company.
Similarly, Ms Wu has been actively involved in multiple pharmacy workgroups throughout her career. She has contributed to programs such as the Diabetic Patient Care Program (DPCP) and smoking cessation, which fuelled her interest in patient care and prompted her to pursue the immunisation delivery certificate training program.
Ms Chan believes that community pharmacists have great potential to value-add to the community. As the chairperson for the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore (PSS) community chapter, she launched the “Start to STOP” smoking cessation program nationwide and also led the chronic disease and weight management clinics within her company. As head of PSS’ community vaccination taskforce, she worked with MOH to expand the role of community pharmacists.
Frontline vaccination team from Watsons (Lynn, Heng Boon, Marj, Wei Min, Wing Lam)
Benefits and hopes
We asked the pharmacist vaccinators their views about the benefits of the program to the population. All three concurred that the initiative is an important step in improving public health, particularly by increasing the public’s accessibility to vaccinations. They recognise the value of this initiative where it is in line with Healthier SG’s focus on preventive care. Ms Chung believes that it provides an opportunity for pharmacists to interact more with the public and demonstrate their role in healthcare. On a similar note, Ms Wu and Ms Chan believe that the initiative will create more opportunities for pharmacists’ professional development and for the introduction of future health services. They hope this service can continue to expand and make a positive lasting impact.
Ms Wu conducting counseling
Words of encouragement and advice for interested participants
“To my fellow pharmacists interested in joining this vaccination program, I encourage you to embrace this opportunity!” said Ms Wu, as it deepens knowledge on preventive healthcare and professional skill set as a pharmacist. This initiative also creates chances for pharmacists to engage with other pharmacists within and outside of their organisation and open new windows to explore new ways to contribute to public health in Singapore.
Ms Chung also encouraged participants to deepen their knowledge on vaccination though “it can seem daunting especially at the start, with lots of new information and processes”. She advised that it is important to maintain teamwork and composure amidst all the new information, stay organised and to remember that experiences can improve workflow by increasing efficiency and productivity.
Similarly, Ms Chan encouraged interested pharmacists to “Go for it! Be confident, challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone and value-add more to the community.” She cautioned that staying too comfortable for an extended period can sometimes lead pharmacists to become complacent and disengaged. She also added that the launch of the community vaccination program is only the beginning of an exciting journey ahead.
Words of encouragement and advice for participants interested in being involved in the Community Pharmacist Influenza Vaccination Sandbox
A walk down memory lane
When asked about their fond memories from school and whether they anticipated their position today, Ms Wu cherished the hands-on pharmacy practice lab sessions and the meaningful friendships she formed during her studies. As a pharmacist vaccinator, she is excited about the positive impact she can make in her community. Similarly, Ms Chung values the strong friendships and essential skills gained in school. Though she never anticipated her current role, she is grateful for the opportunities that have allowed her to grow both professionally and personally, including representing the company at external and national workgroups, participating in upskilling programs, and presenting at congresses. For Ms Chan, pharmacy became exciting through pharmacotherapy lessons, where she learned about treatment of various ailments. Despite the long days, the support of friends kept her going. Ms Chan now finds fulfillment in using her knowledge to help people in the community and making a real difference in their health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Community Pharmacist Influenza Vaccination Sandbox is a valuable initiative that enhances access to flu vaccines while highlighting the evolving role of pharmacists in our changing healthcare landscape. Our fellow alumni are paving the way in driving this change, leveraging their expertise and commitment to patient care influencing the broader impact on healthcare in the community. By empowering community pharmacists to administer vaccinations, it increases convenience, boosts preventive health and alleviates pressure on primary care providers.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms Wu Weijie, Ms Chung Wing Lam and Ms Carolyn Chan for generously sharing their stories and experiences, and going beyond to share important advice with us! Their passion and dedication have been very inspiring. We wish everyone in the team an enriching journey ahead with more successes to come!
Article by NUSPS Awareness Committee – Eugenia Koh Yu Qing (Year 1 Pharmacy student), Devon Ong Keng Yu (Year 1 Pharmacy student) and Eri Yeo (Year 2 Pharmaceutical Science student)
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