Background Community pharmacists are often the most accessible health professional in rural areas, which makes them well-positioned to increase vaccine access in their communities. This study sought to document rural pharmacists’ ability to and interest in administering COVID-19 vaccinations. Methods A sample of community pharmacists participating in a rural community pharmacy practice-based research network in the United States completed an online survey that assessed: (a) demographic characteristics; (b) previous COVID-19 vaccine training; and (c) ability to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Data were collected between late December 2020 and mid-February 2021. Descriptive statistics and correlations were calculated. Results Sixty-nine of 106 pharmacists completed the survey (response rate=65%). Approximately half of pharmacists were ready (52%) or actively taking steps (39%) to provide COVID-19 vaccines in the next six months. Pharmacies had a median of two staff members who were authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Almost half (46%) estimated they could administer more than 30 vaccinations per day. Most pharmacies could store vaccines at standard refrigeration (90%) and freezing (83%) levels needed for thawed and pre-mixed vaccines, respectively. Most pharmacists planned to access COVID-19 vaccines through an agreement with a state or local public health entity (48%) or by ordering through group purchasing organizations (46%). Only 23% of pharmacists had received any COVID-19 vaccine training and only 48% very much wanted to get the vaccine themselves. Several variables, including pharmacy type and pharmacists’ vaccine attitudes and previous COVID-19 training, were significantly associated with the anticipated number of COVID-19 vaccines pharmacies could administer daily. Conclusion Even early in the nation’s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, most rural pharmacies were interested in and preparing to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Few rural pharmacists had received COVID-19 training and many expressed some hesitancy to receive the vaccine themselves. The number of vaccines pharmacists could administer varied with pharmacy and pharmacist characteristics.

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