Community pharmacists serve as critical frontline healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet their own health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains underexplored, despite its impact on their professional performance. To assess HRQoL and examine factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination decisions among pharmacists in Romania and Bulgaria, an online survey was conducted from 15th July to 15th August 2020, including 395 participants. Quality of life was measured using the 15D instrument, and pharmacists’ guidance on vitamin C and D intake during the pandemic was also analyzed to support future educational programs. Comparative analysis revealed that Bulgarian pharmacists reported lower HRQoL scores than their Romanian counterparts in domains such as sleep, daily activities, cognitive function, discomfort, depression, and distress, with overall scores declining with age (Spearman r = 0.168, p = 0.022). Vaccine acceptance was similar across both countries, with nearly half of respondents expressing willingness to be vaccinated (p = 0.7542), and was significantly linked to vitamin D supplementation (p = 0.0134) but not vitamin C (p = 0.4157). Other factors, including age, gender, income, and HRQoL markers, showed no significant association with vaccination intentions. These findings highlight the need for evidence-based interventions aimed at improving the wellbeing of community pharmacists actively engaged in pandemic response.
