FEDERAL funding needs to be allocated to enable pharmacist immunisers to administer COVID-19 vaccines to patients free of charge, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National Vice President, Anthony Tassone, believes.
Tassone told Pharmacy Daily it was imperative that "appropriate remuneration" be provided for pharmacist administered vaccines "so that it can be truly free for all Australians as promised by Prime Minister [Scott] Morrison".
"Whilst pharmacies are equipped and capable of being part of a COVID-19 vaccination program - for it to be truly free for all...there needs to be a remuneration mechanism for payment of the delivery and administration of the vaccine service by pharmacies," he said.
"Currently, patients have to pay out of pocket costs for a pharmacist to administer a vaccine to them.
"This must change and is a matter for the Federal Government."
At a state level, Tassone said the Guild had engaged with Victorian Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos, to ensure legislation is implemented to allow pharmacists to provide COVID vaccines there.
"Those discussions are ongoing and have been constructive to date," he said.
"It would be our expectation that pharmacist immunisers in Victoria would be given authorisation to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to patients when it becomes available."
He added an estimated two million Australians received the flu vaccine through pharmacy this year.
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