INVESTMENT needs to be made to train qualified pharmacists, students and the pharmacy workforce - including technicians and assistants - to provide vaccines to support the rollout of global COVID-19 immunisation campaigns, Queensland University of Technology School of Clinical Science, Head, Dr Lisa Nissen, believes.
In a foreword published in the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) vaccination handbook for pharmacists yesterday, Nissen backed the profession to play a part in boosting the uptake of vaccines, while adding the skills required to administer vaccines could also support further expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice to include the provision of other medications.
"Globally, the burden of infectious disease on the wider community is still enormous," she said.
"Vaccines play a critical role as one of the key health interventions in preventive care.
"This has been no more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It is not surprising that pharmacists, as key members of the healthcare team with medicines expertise, play a critical role in vaccination and vaccine management.
"However, while complex vaccines such as the new COVID-19 mRNA type require specific storage, production and logistical management and handling, these are all core parts of pharmacists' training, and there is more that pharmacy can contribute in global vaccination.
"The development of further skills in the administration of not only vaccines but other medicines too, and clinical skills in patient assessment and management, will be key to build the capability and capacity in the profession to contribute to a wider group of emerging healthcare needs.
"Another component of progress will be advocating within the pharmacy profession itself, with the wider healthcare team and the health policy and political space to ensure the value provided by the increasing involvement of pharmacists in these key public health and primary care activities are visible and utilised.
"Every individual pharmacist can play a role in advocating with patients, the community, health services and political agencies to increase vaccination provision and rates.
"But where vaccination itself is concerned, pharmacists can play a part in this essential health activity."
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