Whether it’s protecting the population at large or focusing on diverse communities, this year’s winners of the Vaccine Services Awards prove that pharmacies are at the forefront of health innovation.

In the category of individual or pharmacy team initiatives, Sophie Park and her colleague Saffiyah Abdulaziz at the Rexall pharmacy in downtown Vancouver earned top marks for bringing vaccine services to communities where they’re needed most. Over the past two years, their collaboration with the Vancouver Police Department alone has delivered almost 600 doses of Shingrix (not covered by public programs) to first responders. “We also run flu and COVID-19 clinics for frontline workers at fire stations and have served hundreds [of people] at wellness fairs hosted by Fairmont and Pan Pacific Hotels,” says Park.

Behind the scenes, Park and Abdulaziz have helped introduce technology and workflow innovations that make these programs sustainable. From pre-registration platforms and automated reminders to portable refrigeration units ensuring vaccine integrity on the move, her team has crafted a scalable system that can serve hundreds of people across multiple sites without compromising safety or quality.