Pharmacy Daily | DoH makes Indigenous COVAX push

PHARMACISTS and other COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) providers are being urged to "reach out to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people" in their communities to boost vaccine uptake.

In an open letter to immunisers, Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation CEO, Pat Turner, and National COVAX Taskforce Coordinator, Lieutenant General John Frewen, thanked them for their efforts to date and asked them to continue to support vaccine uptake in their communities.

"The primary care sector continues to play an enormous role in ensuring Indigenous Australians have access to COVAX and ongoing support and information about the virus," they said.

"You will now be aware of the advice provided by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) accepted by the Australian Government which recommended Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 12-15 years be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination from 09 Aug.

"This means all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 12 years and over are now eligible for a COVAX."

The letter noted that as of 16 Aug, approximately 29.7% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 16 years and older had received at least one dose of a COVAX - significantly below the 48.8% of the non-Indigenous population.

"We all have an important role to play in providing culturally safe vaccination services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," they said.

"For all Indigenous Australians to be vaccinated and bridge the current gap, we are asking the whole primary care sector to work together and ensure there is equitable COVID-19 vaccine uptake across Australia.

"We appreciate your ongoing support and commitment to vaccinating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians as a priority cohort.

"We encourage you to continue to proactively engage with your Indigenous patients."

Speaking during a Pharmacy Guild of Australia COVAX webinar last week, Frewen raised concerns about the risks of vaccine misinformation being spread in Indigenous communities, and warned "once it's in the community its nigh on impossible to shake".