While working at CVS Health before the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act for COVID-19 was declared, I saw many patients turned away from the pharmacy due to age restrictions for most vaccinations. One patient interaction stuck with me: I was working with a mother who did not speak English and her daughter was translating on her behalf, stating that they were not able to see a primary care provider due to financial circumstances. Financially, providing her child with the vaccine at the pharmacy would have saved them a lot of money and time.

I had the opportunity to participate in Texas Pharmacy Day at the Capitol on February 28. The event was an incredible experience, providing me the chance to advocate for policies including expanded pharmacist immunization authority with state legislators.

House Bill 1105 by Rep. Four Price and Senate Bill 749 by Sen. Pete Flores aim to expand access to vaccines by authorizing pharmacists to order and administer CDC-recommended vaccines to children 3 years of age and older, with the consent of their parent or legal guardian, and to delegate vaccine administration to a certified pharmacy technician. I believe this legislation will support higher vaccination rates since pharmacies are generally accessible to the public and often have extended hours of operation. Such increased access to vaccines can help limit the spread of preventable diseases.

One of the highlights of Pharmacy Day at the Capitol was the opportunity to meet with our legislators. We spoke to them about the importance of expanding access to vaccines and how pharmacists can play a crucial role in achieving that goal. Hearing and sharing different perspectives and experiences with my pharmacy colleagues empowered me to voice the significance of pharmacists.

In addition to meeting with legislators, the legislative briefing afforded students the opportunity to learn and to gain a deeper understanding of the issues affecting our profession. Overall, the presentation provided valuable skills that we were able to use when meeting with our legislators. It helped us to feel more confident in our ability to present our ideas effectively and to build relationships with legislators that will be beneficial in the future.

We learned about the importance of being concise and clear in our messaging. We were taught to identify the key points we wanted to make and to frame them in a way that would be easy for legislators to understand. We also learned about the importance of using data and statistics to support our arguments and how to present them in a way that would be compelling.

The presentation also covered how to build relationships with legislators and their staff. We were encouraged to be respectful, polite, and to listen actively to their concerns. We were taught to encourage discussion and to use our conversations as opportunities to educate legislators and their staff about the important role of pharmacists.

Pharmacy Day at the Capitol was an important event for us as student pharmacists, and it highlighted the critical role that pharmacists play in the health care system. We were able to advocate for the needs of our profession, learn from experts in the field, and build valuable relationships with legislators and other student pharmacists.

Attending the event was an incredibly empowering experience that has left a lasting impression on me. It has strengthened my resolve to advocate for the needs of my profession and has inspired me to continue to push for change in the future. Witnessing the power of collective action and seeing the impact that our voices can have on health care policy has made me want to get more involved and make a difference in my community and beyond.

The experience has inspired me to continue advocating for the needs of our profession, both now and in the future. It has shown me the power that comes from speaking up and using our voices to effect change, and it has given me the skills and confidence to continue doing so as TPA-ASP Policy Chair next academic year.

Trinh is a P2 student at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and serves as Policy Committee Chair-Elect for the TPA Academy of Student Pharmacists.