Anderson ’75 appointed to national COVID-19 Vaccine Panel
Steven C. Anderson ’75 says that while producing a vaccine is important, it’s equally critical to ensure public understanding, acceptance, and participation in any vaccine campaign.
Anderson, president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, keeps this in mind while serving on the Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 Vaccine Consultation Panel.
Anderson, of McLean, Virginia, notes that local pharmacies will play a vital role in vaccine distribution when the time comes.
He said that federal government studies show that in a pandemic pharmacists can vaccinate 25 million more Americans per week, and can help vaccinate 80% of the nation seven weeks sooner than if neighborhood pharmacies were not engaged. About one in three adults, or 38 million, who received the influenza vaccine in 2018-2019 did so at their community pharmacy, administered by their pharmacists.
This is part of a series of stories on Cornellians responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Americans appreciate the opportunity to receive their vaccinations at pharmacies, and with more than 60,000 community pharmacies nationwide—in which nearly 90% of all Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy—pharmacies stand ready to support the efforts of Operation Warp Speed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health,” he said.
How are you responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? Contact us to share your story, or alert us to other Cornellian’s responses.
