Pharmacists don’t hate giving vaccines. They don’t hate helping people. What they hate is being overwhelmed, undervalued, and unable to provide the level of care they know patients deserve. It’s easy to misinterpret the challenges pharmacists face when it comes to vaccine administration as something personal. But the reality is much more complicated.

The truth is, pharmacists are stretched thin. There’s no denying the burnout that has plagued our profession for years, and it’s only gotten worse. A 2021 study from UIC Pharmacy showed some truly alarming statistics. Pharmacists aren’t just tired — they’re burned out. And it’s not just those working in ambulatory care or health systems. The burnout cuts across the board, and the numbers are terrifying. This isn’t just a little stress or fatigue we’re talking about — this is a full-blown crisis.

The situation has only gotten worse since the pandemic. A quarter of pharmacists reported feeling extremely stressed at work in 2021, and those numbers have only worsened in the years since. The impact of this stress on morale and overall job satisfaction has been devastating. Pharmacists are on the frontlines, dealing with complex medication regimens, counseling patients, managing insurance issues, and now, on top of everything else, they’re expected to deliver vaccines.

But let’s clear up one thing: it’s not that pharmacists don’t want to help — they’ve just been put in an impossible situation. One pharmacist even vented online, saying they wanted to “punch the person in the face” who advocated for pharmacists to give vaccines. While that’s obviously an extreme reaction, it was upvoted hundreds of times and sparked a massive conversation. This is a clear indication that something is broken in our profession.

The issue isn’t just about the work itself — it’s about the overwhelming number of responsibilities being piled on pharmacists with little to no support. The stress and burnout pharmacists are experiencing are having real consequences, from depression and substance abuse to higher suicide rates. In fact, pharmacists rank as having the 14th highest suicide rate out of over 480 occupations. We are twice as likely to take our own lives as the general public. This isn’t just an issue; it’s a full-blown crisis.

On top of the burnout, there’s an identity crisis within the profession. We’re caught between two worlds: one pushing for an expanded role in clinical practice, prescribing medications, and providing direct patient care, while the other clings to the traditional role of dispensing medications. It’s a difficult place to be, especially for pharmacists who have been in the field for decades. The public still expects us to be behind the counter, filling prescriptions, and answering questions. But we’re being asked to do so much more, and it’s simply not sustainable.

The solution isn’t easy, but it starts with having tough conversations and advocating for change. We need a unified voice, one that speaks up for the real needs of pharmacists. This includes pushing for laws that allow pharmacists to focus on patient care rather than getting bogged down with administrative tasks. It’s not just about getting a break when you need it—it’s about changing the system to make sure pharmacists aren’t working in unsafe, unsustainable conditions.

One of the things we’ve learned through research and experience is that “self-care” is not the answer to fixing burnout. Telling someone to do yoga or meditate when they’re already overwhelmed is counterproductive. Instead, we need to do less — not more. We need to prioritize time off, adequate staffing, and systemic changes to create a work environment where pharmacists can thrive, not just survive.

The future of pharmacy is not about pushing for more clinical responsibilities without addressing the underlying issues. We need a balance between clinical roles and traditional dispensing duties. The demands placed on pharmacists need to be manageable, and we need to make sure they’re supported in a way that allows them to do their jobs well without burning out. If we can make these changes, we can create an environment where pharmacists can truly make a difference in patient care without sacrificing their own well-being.

At the end of the day, pharmacists don’t hate giving vaccines. They don’t hate helping people. They just want to be in a position where they can do it properly — without feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. This is a complex issue, and we’ve only scratched the surface. But if we work together, advocate for change, and push for solutions that address the root causes of burnout, we can create a better future for pharmacists and the patients they serve.