PLANNED incentive payments for GPs to provide in-reach COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) services to workers in aged and disability care should be available to all immunisers, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, says.
Under a Federal Government-funded scheme, GPs will receive a $1,000 payment once they vaccinate 50 aged care and disability workers, with a $20 fee paid for every additional employee immunised through a dedicated in-reach program.
Royal Australian College of General Practice President, Dr Karen Price, said the "additional payments are just what the doctor ordered".
However, Twomey told Pharmacy Daily that community pharmacists and other vaccinators should not be excluded from such payments.
"The Guild believes all vaccinators should be on an equal footing to ensure maximum uptake of vaccinations across Australia," he said.
Twomey said that community pharmacies were well-equipped to provide similar in-reach services for the aged and disability care sectors.
"Community pharmacists have all the skills and training to provide a service for the aged and disability care sectors - where many pharmacists already have a close relationship on medicines supply and medicines checks," he said.
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