I am a community pharmacist but haven't been working on the front line but I have been working in the planning and support space to help my colleagues during a very stressful time, which they have really appreciated.
Pharmacists and their staff are essential workers and have been providing their usual services with a "closed door". Patients are allowed into the pharmacy in a controlled manner to allow for physical distancing to keep everyone safe.
Many pharmacies have set up two teams that don't work together if one staff member gets sick with COVID 19 there is another team to take over.
This has led to the dispensing of prescriptions taking longer and the pharmacists have been texting the patient when the prescription is ready for them to collect. To help the vulnerable populations many pharmacists are using volunteers to deliver the prescriptions. They have also been administering a lot of flu vaccinations to vulnerable people and doing their usual minor aliments work/consultations (often over the phone.) This new way of working will probably be the new normal for this winter, so please be kind to your pharmacist and keep well.
There are 4 Rotarians who are pharmacists in Palmerston North and many others throughout the district.
Keep safe
Clare