April 20, 2020
The safety of patients and getting them their everyday medications are big priorities for IALOP member pharmacies. Our rules cover all parts of the ordering process, like reviewing prescriptions, having pharmacists check orders in licensed pharmacies, and making sure deliveries are safe. While COVID-19 is affecting people all over the world and changing how many businesses work, IALOP members are doing all they can to make sure orders are filled and delivered as fast as possible during these unusual times.
IALOP members keep filling orders for everyday medications for personal use when they get a valid prescription. They are working with suppliers and patients to try their best to get prescription drugs delivered. Right now, because many flights are cancelled, it's taking longer for deliveries to arrive, but we know that orders are being delivered. We ask for your understanding as we work through these delays. For information about current delivery times, please get in touch with the IALOP member pharmacy you like the best.
We've also talked with health experts who say that there's probably a very small chance of catching COVID-19 from products or packaging that are shipped over days or weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States and the Public Health Agency of Canada have both said coronaviruses usually don't survive long enough to be a risk when you get a package in the mail. New research says the virus doesn't last more than 24 hours on cardboard, which is what medications are shipped in. The chance of catching the virus from products shipped over days or weeks at room temperature is very small.
To learn more about COVID-19 and what IALOP members are doing to keep you safe, please check out our FAQ page.