Pharmacy students receive H1N1 vaccine certification
Betsy Cohen
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
11/20/09 - After 12 hours of studying various case studies in homework assignments and practicing vaccinating their peers, 47 students in the University of Rhode Island's pharmacy program received certification to immunize people with the soon-to-be-released H1N1 vaccine.
Students who completed the course are legally able to immunize anyone 18 years old and older.
The certification was provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The federal government issued a grant that helped offset fees associated with the training program.
Students in the URI college of pharmacy can obtain their certification to immunize patients through this program or upon completion of the pharmacy program.
"When they graduate, they're certified," Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Jeffrey Bratberg said. "As a licensed intern in Rhode Island, they can immunize people as long as I'm there to observe them."
In 2007, when it became legal for pharmacists in Rhode Island to immunize people, six pharmacists were trained to be leaders for the student immunization-teaching program.
"It's a great thing to teach them a real-world skill that they can apply to anyone 18 and up," Bratberg said.
He said that the purpose of immunization is to prevent the spread of disease.
In order for pharmacists to continue legally administering vaccinations to people in Rhode Island, they need to have an active CPR license and be annually trained in current blood-borne pathogens, Bratberg said. He said they are trained in everything from using safety needles to managing needle sticks.
"They learned everything from the diseases themselves to how to manage any reactions to the vaccine to legal and regulatory issues in the Rhode Island environment," Bratberg said.
Under supervision by Bratberg and other trainers, students in the program were required to practice two intramuscular and one subcutaneous shots on each other.
According to Bratber, the program will be part of next year's pharmacy curriculum.
Students who completed the course are legally able to immunize anyone 18 years old and older.
The certification was provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The federal government issued a grant that helped offset fees associated with the training program.
Students in the URI college of pharmacy can obtain their certification to immunize patients through this program or upon completion of the pharmacy program.
"When they graduate, they're certified," Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Jeffrey Bratberg said. "As a licensed intern in Rhode Island, they can immunize people as long as I'm there to observe them."
In 2007, when it became legal for pharmacists in Rhode Island to immunize people, six pharmacists were trained to be leaders for the student immunization-teaching program.
"It's a great thing to teach them a real-world skill that they can apply to anyone 18 and up," Bratberg said.
He said that the purpose of immunization is to prevent the spread of disease.
In order for pharmacists to continue legally administering vaccinations to people in Rhode Island, they need to have an active CPR license and be annually trained in current blood-borne pathogens, Bratberg said. He said they are trained in everything from using safety needles to managing needle sticks.
"They learned everything from the diseases themselves to how to manage any reactions to the vaccine to legal and regulatory issues in the Rhode Island environment," Bratberg said.
Under supervision by Bratberg and other trainers, students in the program were required to practice two intramuscular and one subcutaneous shots on each other.
According to Bratber, the program will be part of next year's pharmacy curriculum.
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