THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is advocating for the removal of vaccination red tape and the harmonisation of pharmacist immunisation regulations.
The PSA argues that the Australian Immunisation Handbook should be adopted as the national standard for vaccine formularies, allowing pharmacists in every region to offer the same vaccines.
"Pharmacists are underutilised in many states and territories, with regulatory barriers preventing them from practicing to their full potential when providing vaccination services," said PSA National President, A/Prof Fei Sim.
The PSA believes that national harmonisation would not only improve access but also help achieve immunisation targets.
The recent approval of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine further underscores the importance of uniform access.
While available in some regions, residents of South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not yet have access to the RSV vaccine at local pharmacies, unlike other states.
"Leveraging the accessibility of pharmacists to administer a greater range of vaccines would hugely improve uptake and reduce hospitalisations from vaccine-preventable diseases," Sim added.
The PSA's Pharmacists in 2030 outlines a roadmap for the future of the profession, focusing on maximising pharmacists' potential to improve healthcare access.
Removing regulatory barriers is seen as a crucial first step.
Sim also urged pharmacists to use PSA resources, such as the Respiratory Syncytial Virus module, to stay updated on vaccination services as the Continuing Professional Development cycle ends on 30 Sep. JG
Pictured: Health Minister Mark Butler and Sim at PSA24 launching the Pharmacists in 2030 report.
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