Pharmacy Daily | Let’s get the jabs done

OFFERS from community pharmacists to join the COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) rollout campaign must not be wasted, Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Medical Research, Frank McGuire, believes.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly yesterday, the Labor MP called on the Federal Government to "supercharge" its vaccination rollout, and set a deadline for having 70% of Australians immunised.

He told the Assembly that efforts to administer COVAX were "months behind schedule" and called on the Morrison Government to fast-track the distribution of more than eight million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by CSL in Melbourne into the arms of vulnerable patients.

"Victorian GPs say they can double their number of vaccinations, and pharmacists are pleading to help deliver jabs in arms," he said.

"These offers must be seized, not squandered.

"The Australian Government knew winter was coming but maintained there was no race for vaccines.

"The race is to save lives and livelihoods by delivering vaccines with the utmost urgency.

"Victoria has the most effective distribution result, and vaccines in arms is our way out of lockdowns and the pandemic.

"Delivery must be supercharged so another golden opportunity is not missed.

"Let us get the jabs done."

While McGuire urged the Federal Government not to pass-up the opportunity to get pharmacist immunisers on board, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, has previously noted that the decision to approve community pharmacies to administer COVAX shots, "sits firmly with the State Premiers" (PD 26 May).

Twomey added that the Premiers would be "personally responsible" for health outcomes and economic damage caused by lockdowns should they not approve community pharmacies to deliver COVAX shots.