Pharmacy Daily | Govts have duty to expand vax access

GOVERNMENTS around the globe have a public health duty to expand vaccination coverage through pharmacies, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) CEO, Dr Catherine Duggan, believes.

Launching the FIP Digital Program to transform vaccination globably and regionally, Duggan said urgent action was needed to ensure equity of access to disease prevention measures, including boosting investment in vaccination services through community pharmacies.

"Vaccination not only protects against illness but also reduces the burden that illness places on society and individuals," she said.

"Vaccinated children will grow into healthier adults who are more economically active.

"Vaccinated adults will take less time off work and be more able to contribute positively to society.

"One of the key levers for increasing vaccination rates across people's life-course is to increase convenience of access and it is not difficult to see the significant role pharmacy could play in this.

"This call is particularly urgent as vaccines against COVID-19 enter advanced stages of clinical research, and mass immunisation strategies will be required not only to protect the most vulnerable population groups, but to avoid additional lockdowns and economic paralysis.

"Increasing vaccination coverage is one of the most effective ways of doing this."

Speaking during an earlier session at the FIP Virtual Congress this month, Duggan highlighted the socio-economic benefits of vaccinations, saying that investing in vaccine programs was "one of the most cost-effective health interventions".

The FIP Digital Program called on Governments to "expand the regulatory scope of practice of appropriately trained and certified pharmacists to authorise them to administer a broad range of vaccines beyond infancy".

The document co-signed by Duggan, FIP President, Doninique Jordan, FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Practice, Paul Sinclair and other members of the FIP Bureau, said Governments should "invest in prevention strategies, including vaccines and vaccination services by all providers, including pharmacists, to ensure equity in access to vaccinations and the sustainability of the service", and to "include pharmacists in emergency preparedness and response plans as frontline health workers".