TASMANIAN pharmacies are expected to be invited to join the next stage of the State's COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) rollout in the coming weeks.
Tasmanian Department of Health Secretary, Katherine Morgan-Wicks, announced plans were underway to identify and authorise the first community pharmacies to become vaccine sites, with the rollout to follow a similar model to Queensland, with regional and rural stores to be activated initially, before expanding the campaign to other pharmacies.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmanian Branch President, Helen O'Byrne, said she was "pleased that Tasmania will now join other State and Territory Governments to initiate the process to include community pharmacies in the rollout".
"The Guild will work closely with the Government and the Health Department to ensure selected community pharmacies can start providing COVAX as soon as possible -- we are hopeful of an end of Jul start," she said.
"Incorporating community pharmacies, particularly in regional areas, into the rollout efforts will undoubtedly bolster the numbers of Tasmanians receiving the vaccination and help speed up vaccination rates further - making the target of full vaccination by the end of the year an achievable objective".
"Community pharmacists are highly accessible and trusted health care professionals who have done the same training as doctors and nurse immunisers.
"Importantly, particularly in regional areas our pharmacies are already there within the community and set up to provide vaccination services."
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