A new University of Sydney study has shown pharmacists can successfully administer influenza vaccine in the community pharmacy setting, and that the practice has wide public acceptance.
Professors Peter Carroll and Jane Hanrahan presented the results of their work at the 2016 Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association Annual Conference yesterday.
Pharmacists who had completed the Guild accredited vaccination training course in Apr and May this year totalled 59.
They all took part in the study documenting the demographics of the 2,256 patients receiving the vaccines in 47 pharmacies.
Females vaccinated were 61% of the total, 73% received the quadrivalent vaccine, and 18% had never had a flu vaccine before.
While 470 people (21%) could have received a free influenza vaccine from their GP, they chose to pay to have it in the pharmacy.
No adverse events were recorded, with Carroll saying the study found consumers "clearly appreciated and supported" the vaccinations.
"The fact that many people who received their vaccination from the pharmacist had never had an influenza vaccination before shows the potential for community pharmacists to greatly increase the influenza vaccination rate within the community," he said.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 05 Dec 16
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 05 Dec 16