STATE and Territory Governments are against being urged to follow Victoria's lead in making National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines available through pharmacies.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, said "there is no reasonable argument to deny patients who want to access NIP-listed vaccinations at their pharmacy that they are entitled to and need".
"Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers, yet in some states and territories, they cannot provide their patients with NIP-funded vaccines which are recommended for them," he said.
"This is an incredibly frustrating experience for both patients and pharmacists.
"PSA has long advocated for national uniformity in allowing authorised pharmacist immunisers to access NIP-funded vaccines.
"At present, NIP-funded influenza vaccines can be administered by authorised pharmacists in the ACT, Victoria and Western Australia under certain conditions, with NSW the latest jurisdiction to approve this from the 2022 influenza season and it has the backing of both political parties in Tasmania.
"Pharmacists have become a normal part of the vaccination workforce.
"It is time to align the funding and regulation of pharmacist-administered vaccination with that of all other authorised immunisers."
Freeman also backed Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch President, Andrew Ngeow's criticism of Channel Seven's (PD 29 Apr) reporting that pharmacies that have been administering "weaker" influenza vaccines.
"At a time when we are dealing with significant issues about vaccine hesitancy, political point scoring and clickbait will only undermine our public health initiatives," he said.
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