A SUPREME VICTORY!

A New National Pharmacy Association (URPhA) and a Bold Statement from the First One (APhA)

• I am impressed with Cristina's abilities, and her commitment and passion for the advancement of our profession of pharmacy. Her concerns and ideas resonate closely with those I have voiced in The Pharmacist Activist


• Primary functions of URPhA include promoting more communication/networking among pharmacists, and conducting polls/surveys to request opinions and ideas of a large number of pharmacists in a manner that will provide a stronger collective "voice" for pharmacists regarding important issues.


• I have been highly selective in supporting the establishment of new national pharmacy associations for the purpose of addressing what I consider to be unmet needs. I have proposed an association for the Chain Pharmacists of America (CPOA; May and June, 2018 issues of The Pharmacist Activist) and an association that would unite the many current national pharmacy associations - the United Pharmacists of America (UPA; January, 2016 issue). Most leaders of the existing national associations have not supported these recommendations, and the establishment and growth of URPhA may provide the best opportunity to address these concepts and recommendations.

American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The New Year Should Begin with Apologies as well as Resolutions

• The Chinese Communist Party that has provided multiple explanations for the origin of COVID-19, except the most probable one. The most credible explanation is that the virus originated in the sophisticated laboratory in Wuhan from which it escaped.
  
  
• The scientists, clinicians, and other "experts" who have permitted politics to supercede science and reason, and who have attempted to silence and discredit others with similar credentials but with opinions with which they disagree. "Follow the science" is good advice but some scientists do not do that themselves and should be exposed.
  
  
• The elected officials and their colleagues who have made ill-advised and tragic decisions (e.g., requiring nursing homes to admit COVID-19-infected patients) and have imposed excessive lock-downs/restrictions (e.g., on schools, small businesses, sporting events) that have reduced the quality of education, increased unemployment and bankruptcies, created an atmosphere of fear and resentment, and damaged the physical and mental health of millions.
  
  
• Much of the media, who can not be expected to know the difference between viruses and bacteria, have suddenly become authorities on matters they know little about and selectively provide information based on their politics or choice of "experts" whose opinions they authoritatively repeat. Particularly inexcusable are the decisions made by highly-regarded medical journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet that hastily published "research" and opinion that fit a favored political narrative, only to have to subsequently retract them because of errors and fraud. The credibility of these publications has been damaged.
  
  
• Elected officials and the media that ridiculed the possibility of COVID-19 vaccines being available before the end of 2020 who, without regret or apology for their mistakes, are now obsessed with their criticisms that the number of individuals who have been immunized is less than the stated goal.
  
  
• President Trump (notwithstanding the fact that "the buck stops with him") for some erroneous comments and a "style" that has alienated many and contributed to the politicization of ideas and opinions that are of value.
  
  
• Dr. Fauci for his errors (e.g., that COVID-19 was not likely to be a problem in the U.S., wearing masks is not necessary). Particularly disingenuous are his comments to adjust the percentage estimate of the population needed to provide herd immunity for which his previous and revised statistics are primarily based on what he thinks the public can handle and is in a position to hear, rather than on evidence.
  
  
• Those who "cherry-pick," misunderstand, and/or misrepresent data and statistics for the purpose of promoting the information/message they want others to hear.
  
  
• The technology and social media companies that suppress freedom of speech and prevent the communication of information that does not align with what they choose to have the public receive.
  
  
• The colleges of pharmacy and other health professional schools that have closed down and/or are providing much of their instruction and experiences virtually in less effective and weakened programs. Upon graduation, these health professionals are expected to promptly join the front lines in healthcare settings in which there is high risk of COVID-19 and other disorders. Many will not be adequately prepared. These colleges are more interested in reducing their institutional risk of possible negative publicity from positive COVID-19 tests, etc. than they are in protecting their students for whom there is very low risk and providing them with the best possible education.
  
  
• The corporations like CVS that are driven by greed and profit but want us to believe they have a commitment to the health of their customers and communities. CVS has obtained a huge contract from the federal government to provide immunizations but does not currently have the level of staffing or a system/structure to fulfill its basic responsibilities, let alone new ones. Management states that it is hiring tens of thousands of new employees, only a small fraction of which are likely to be pharmacists, for temporary, part-time, and low-salaried positions without benefits. It also is strongly promoting the extensive use of personnel with less training and lower salaries than its pharmacists receive to assume greater responsibilities in immunization programs.
  
  
• Those who deny the value of vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines will not be effective in everyone, some patients will experience localized discomfort, and a few will experience serious adverse events. However, the value of the vaccines for individuals and society will far exceed their limitations.