Vaccinate the Dean: The pharmacist’s role in preventing sick days

COVID-19’s typical “summer surge” is on the decline in California as well as locally in San Francisco, indicating that the virus––approaching a five-year anniversary on March 11, 2025––is becoming more like the flu. To help reinforce the importance of getting vaccinated against respiratory illnesses, Dean Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm, rolled up her sleeve on Oct. 3, 2024, for the flu vaccine at the annual Vaccinate the Dean event.

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), staying up to date on vaccines reduces the risk of serious illness and is the best defense against respiratory viruses, such as the flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

Two second-year PharmD students joined Giacomini in what has become a School of Pharmacy tradition. Alisa Koay, vice president of policy for the UCSF American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), administered the dean’s flu vaccine.

Koay and APhA-ASP President Elect Vicki Tran present Giacomini with a proclamation issued by San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed.

Koay and APhA-ASP President Elect Vicki Tran presented Giacomini with a proclamation issued by San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed in which the mayor recognized October as American Pharmacists Month.

“Limiting the spread of viruses is an easy and effective way to help our community,” said Giacomini. “Especially important is to protect vulnerable populations, including older adults and those who are immunocompromised. We learned important lessons about boosting illness prevention during the pandemic, and pharmacists play a key role in sharing the latest information as well as in administering vaccines.”

Vaccination due diligence

“I want to encourage everyone to get the flu vaccine to protect ourselves as well as our families, colleagues, patients and communities from illness,” said UCSF Health Chief Clinical Officer Josh Adler, MD, in an email to UCSF colleagues on Aug. 28, 2024.

In a follow-up message on Sept. 26, 2024 about COVID vaccines, Adler added: “The updated vaccines have been formulated to better match currently circulating variants and to reduce the risk of severe disease. Because we know that protection from prior vaccines decreases over time, it is important to stay up to date with annual COVID-19 vaccination to ensure optimal protection...throughout the fall and winter seasons.”

UCSF mandates and preparedness

In alignment with University of California policy, as well as state laws requiring immunization of health care workers and of patients/residents of health care facilities, flu vaccinations are due by Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. UCSF requires submission of either documentation or declination of your flu shot by this deadline, and members of the UCSF community can get a flu vaccine at one of several UCSF locations.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers more resources and information about why getting vaccinated is one of the safest ways to guard against serious diseases that could result in poor health, medical bills, and not being able to care for family.

“It's time to start preparing for the fall and winter virus season, and that means getting immunized against flu, COVID-19, and RSV," said Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH director and state public health officer. “Taking this step means fewer sick days and more time with your loved ones. We are stronger when we are all protected against respiratory diseases."