PHARMACIST vaccination services are not about "eating another health profession's lunch" but boosting access to immunisations, former International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Community Pharmacy Section President, Paul Sinclair, believes.
Speaking during an FIP webinar last night, the former Pharmacy Guild of Australia National Vice President, stressed the need for pharmacists to be better utilised in the delivery of immunisation services.
"Preventable diseases such as influenza continue to kill too many people each year," he said.
"To improve vaccine access and uptake, health systems must fully leverage the potential of pharmacists in their vaccination strategies.
"It's important from FIP's point-of-view [that] improving vaccination coverage is a healthcare imperative that requires responses from all health systems including diversified vaccination gateways.
"It's not about taking some other profession's lunch - it's about improving vaccination rates by leveraging the most accessible primary healthcare professionals within most communities."
Sinclair said that national pharmacy groups seeking to advocate for pharmacists to have a greater role in the delivery of immunisations should ensure they have answers ready to respond to every question and concern about pharmacists moving into the vaccination space.
He also advocated engaging with political figures who can support the expansion of pharmacists' scope into this area.
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