COVID-19 in 2026: Navigating a Shifting Landscape at the Pharmacy Counter Deck

COVID-19 vaccination has entered a more complex era: shifting federal guidance, a patchwork of state-level policy, and growing patient hesitancy have made the pharmacist's role at the counter more consequential—and more difficult—than ever. In this discussion, Adam James, PharmD and Lauren Angelo, PharmD, MBA, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Rosalind Franklin University, unpack where the COVID-19 landscape stands today, how to counsel confidently under a shared clinical decision-making framework, and what it actually takes to build a durable, multi-vaccine respiratory season program.