To prepare for a potential vaccine for COVID-19, Texas Pharmacy Association CEO Debbie Garza recently met with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) immunization officials to discuss their plans involving pharmacists to administer a COVID-19 vaccine. A vaccine for the coronavirus, in limited quantities initially, is expected as early as November. The DSHS will be responsible for allocation for distribution of vaccines.

Pharmacies will have to enroll with DSHS agreeing to their provider agreement on their registration portal for providers when the site goes live. The administration fee has yet to be finalized; however, discussions call for a fee in the $15 range. However, as the agreement points out, pharmacies must agree to administer the vaccine even if someone can’t pay. DSHS will be using the recently released CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Playbook to strengthen its distribution plan and acknowledges pharmacies will play a key role. TPA will notify pharmacies when the registration portal for providers goes live.

As a reminder, to receive and administer COVID-19 vaccines pharmacies must be registered with the state’s immunization information system, ImmTrac2. Pharmacies will be required to report vaccine administration data within 24 hours. Since most vaccines in late trials require two doses, there will need to be tracking of both doses. Pharmacists will need to know if the vaccine has been administered, timing for the second dose, and which vaccine was actually administered, since the vaccines from different manufacturers are not interchangeable.

ImmTrac2 registration documents can be found in the Forms and Documents section of the DSHS public-facing website; here are the guides for either a new registration or a renewal site. Pharmacies should also register on VaccineFinder.org if you offer immunizations. This site has been developed by CDC and is where the state, among others, will be looking for immunizers. All community pharmacies that provide immunization services should be registered on this site. There is no fee to participate in Vaccine Finder. If you would like to list your pharmacy, you will first need to register for an account. After your account is approved, you will receive further instructions on how to submit information about your vaccination services. Register or login to an existing profile.

For more information on vaccination programs, contact the TPA or the APCI Clinical and Professional Affairs Department.