THE ACT Pharmacist Vaccination Standards were amended this week to enable appropriately trained pharmacists to administer the diptheria, tetanus, a-cellular pertussis (dTpa) vaccine to adults without a prescription.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris said allowing pharmacists to give the whooping cough vaccine was an important initiative that would help prevent the spread of the dangerous and highly contagious infection.
"This announcement further highlights the importance of ACT pharmacists in providing essential community health services for Canberrans," Fitzharris said.
"The amendments will see the ACT join Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory in enabling pharmacists to vaccinate people against whooping cough and influenza as public health initiatives," she added.
ACT Guild president Amanda Galbraith said, "This is a very positive step that will benefit adult patients in Canberra and add to the value community pharmacists are providing in the local health system."
ACT pharmacists will need to comply with additional training, administration and record keeping requirements as set out by the chief health officer before they provide vaccination services.
Pharmacists are not currently permitted to provide vaccinations to people aged less than 18 years or pregnant women.
Galbraith explained, "Patients can be assured that ACT pharmacists who administer vaccinations will comply with additional training, administration and record keeping requirements as set out by the Territory's chief health officer.
"Improving consumer access to vaccines and vaccination services helps to improve health outcomes across our community."
"Vaccination in community pharmacies by trained pharmacists has well and truly arrived," she said.
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