Last week, ACIP voted to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for all patients aged 6 months and older, with shared clinical decision-making. Pharmacists are qualified providers for shared clinical decision-making regarding vaccines, per the CDC. More information about shared clinical decision making can be found here.

The CDC Director must approve the ACIP vote before it is officially added to the CDC Immunization Schedule. Pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians CANNOT administer the COVID-19 vaccines until this approval occurs, unless they have a prescription order, standing order, or vaccine protocol in place. DHS has issued a standing order that allows pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines to any patient aged 6 months and older, which can be used while awaiting the CDC Director’s decision. More information about the standing order can be found here.

Additionally, ACIP voted in favor of the following recommendations. Please note that this recommendation only applies to patients aged 12-47 months, so pharmacists would need a prescription order to administer these vaccines:

• ACIP recommends that vaccination for both MMR and varicella continue, but recommends the use of the separate MMR and VAR vaccines, administered at the same time, for Dose 1 
• If legal guardians express a preference for the MMRV vaccine, it may be used for Dose 1

Medical misinformation and disinformation can be confusing for our patients. Pharmacy professionals can play a pivotal role in offering factual information from trusted sources. The Autism Society, Immunize.org, and Vaccinate Your Family have partnered to create a valuable tool based upon scientific evidence that shows no link between vaccines and autism. Help reassure and support families with facts.

See the infographic here.

2025-2026 Annual Influenza Letter from DHS Now Available

The Wisconsin Immunization Program at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released the annual influenza letter. The letter summarizes the 2025–2026 ACIP recommendations to support your practice.

Created to inspire and connect advanced, enthusiastic pharmacy technicians across Wisconsin, the inaugural PSW Pharmacy Technician Leadership Academy participants strengthened their leadership skills, honed their emotional intelligence, and gained tools to navigate critical conversations and feedback with confidence. Beyond skill-building, this first cohort formed lasting, supportive relationships with peers who share their passion for advancing pharmacy practice.

A new quarterly virtual Provider Status Member Meet-up for PSW members interested in all aspects of Pharmacist Provider Status will begin soon! The first meet-up is scheduled for October 22 from 1-2 pm. The meet-ups will include data and policy updates, sharing of implementation experiences, breakout sessions for specific setting-related questions, and a full group debrief. Please register here and mark your calendars! Interested pharmacists, as well as pharmacy technicians who support provider status efforts, from all practice settings are welcome.

What We Heard: Pulse Poll Results

Thank you to everyone who responded to our recent Fast Facts pulse poll. You showed up with insight, urgency, and bold ideas.

What do you want PSW to prioritize next?

Top themes from your responses included:

• Fair and consistent reimbursement, especially for Medicaid, specialty meds, and pharmacist services
• Technician workforce clarity and engagement, including clarity and opportunities related to technician registration
• Provider status expansion across commercial payers and Medicare
• Pharmacy workforce sustainability, including unsafe staffing concerns
• 340B reform and advocacy
• Greater collaboration with the Pharmacy Examining Board (PEB)
• ·High school engagement & career pipeline development
• Support for legislative modernization to match pharmacy’s expanding role

These member-generated priorities will directly inform PSW’s strategic planning work this fall. We’ll also include information and updates on these topics in future issues of Fast Facts. Your voice is shaping what’s next.

Week 5: Equity in Action: Racial Disparities in Pain Management

National data shows Black patients are less likely to receive adequate pain management or be offered OUD treatment. This chapter confronts these disparities head-on and encourages system-level change.

What you can do:

• Examine how unconscious bias may influence your prescribing, counseling, or service delivery.
• Ensure consistent access to naloxone, MOUD, and care pathways across racial and ethnic groups.
• Track utilization by zip code or patient demographics where available.
• Engage with local equity initiatives to improve trust and access.

Read the Toolkit – Chapter 6 (PDF)