MOVES to harmonise State and Territory legislation and regulation to allow COVID-19 vaccinations to be administered in community pharmacies is being welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Responding to the agreement by State and Territory governments to align legislation to enable pharmacists to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program, announced after Fri's National Cabinet meeting, Guild National President, George Tambassis, said it would pave the way for a wider rollout of the vaccine campaign.
"With more than 5,900 community pharmacies spread out across Australia, there is broad accessibility for all residents to access vaccinations via this network," he said.
"Many of these pharmacies also are open extended hours and at weekends, making it even easier for communities to get their COVID-19 vaccination."
Tambassis said harmonisation of legislation and regulation also was an important step in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
"It is crucial that all States and Territories are on the same page in allowing the COVID-19 vaccination to be delivered in community pharmacies," he said.
"Having different laws covering different jurisdictions would only slow the rollout and potentially put Australians at risk."
In a statement issued after the National Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, noted that the latest "efficacy data... strongly supports Australia's choice of both the rollout of the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines".
The Prime Minister added that Commonwealth, State and Territory authorities will progressively scale up vaccination sites as increased supplies of vaccines become available.
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