PHARMACISTS in Western Australia are the latest to receive the green light to administer COVID-19 vaccinations (COVAX), with the State Government approving legislation to ensure the profession will be eligible to join the Federal Government's planned rollout.
The Structured Administration and Supply Arrangement (SASA) authorises registered pharmacists and nurses employed by a pharmacy that has been approved by the Commonwealth Department of Health, to administer COVAX approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), excluding the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.
Under the SASA, interns who have completed their immunisation and COVID-19 training will be able to administer vaccines under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist who has also undergone the required training.
The changes have been welcomed by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia WA Branch President, Dr Fei Sim, who said the profession would play an important role in the COVAX program.
Sim noted that pharmacy students and assistants will be able to assist with consent and administrative roles within the campaign, but will not be eligible to administer vaccines.
Community pharmacists across the country are expected to start administering COVAX in May, when Phase 2a of the national program is due to commence, however, to date no pharmacies have received approval to take part in the vaccine rollout.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has expressed concern over the lack of certainty around the Pharmacy Programs Administrator's (PPA's) announcement that the approval process for community pharmacies that have expressed an interest in taking part in the campaign will not conclude until May (PD 22 Mar).
However, Sim said that community pharmacies that do not receive approval from the PPA to participate in Phase 2a, "may still be involved in later phases of the vaccine rollout".
"All community pharmacies who meet requirements [will] have the opportunity to participate in the vaccine rollout as more vaccines become available," she said.
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