Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) are coordinating the distribution of Alberta’s share of the National Antiviral Stockpile (NAS).
Dr. Andre Corriveau, Chief Medical Officer of Health, has requested community pharmacist participation in the distribution of Tamiflu, to be provided free of charge to all eligible Albertans.
Tamiflu will be distributed to all community pharmacies within the next week. Policies for distribution and the algorithm for determining who is eligible to receive NAS stock are contained in the AHS Antiviral Dispensing Policy for Pharmacists/Community Pharmacies During the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Response.
Advice to pharmacists
Hold the well-being of each patient to be your primary consideration.
Review the letter from Dr. Corriveau and the policy document thoroughly.
- Fulfill all of the applicable Standards for Pharmacist Practice if you are prescribing Tamiflu. See the ACP answers to questions about H1N1 and pharmacist prescribing and review Standard 11.6 and 13 in the Standards for Pharmacist Practice to make sure you understand your prescribing obligations and limitations.
- Check the ACP website regularly for updated information.
PLEASE NOTE:
ACP is conveying this communication on behalf of AHS and AHW, the designers and administrators of the program. The college has no further information about this or the seasonal influenza immunization program at this time, but will pass on details as we receive them. Check our website and future copies of The Link for updates.
Documents
Reporting adverse events – AHW letter and instructions
AHW answers to questions about Tamiflu dispensing program – coming soon
Originally published in the October 20, 2009, issue of The Link
