Pharmacy Daily | Pharmacies need NIP consistency

STATE and Territory Governments need to "get their acts together" and address the inconsistency of access to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, believes.

Twomey rejected claims reported by Medical Observer, that pharmacists were administering influenza vaccines to patients aged 65 years and older, without advising them that they were eligible to receive the NIP-funded Fluad Quad shot from their GP, rather than paying for it at their pharmacy.

"The inconsistency between States and Territories over NIP vaccines needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency," he said.

"Quite simply community pharmacies in all States and Territories need to be included under the NIP, and this will mean patients over the age of 65 will be able to receive the over 65 vaccine in all jurisdictions.

"The States and Territory where the NIP is not available through community pharmacies are lagging and need to get their acts together.

"Governments like South Australia are failing their communities while they dither about.

"They need to look at this and remedy it immediately.

"I would also stress that in jurisdictions where pharmacies are not covered by the NIP pharmacies counsel over-65-year-old patients about their available vaccine options."

Twomey added that many patients aged 65 years and older opted against having the free Fluad Quad vaccine - which is registered solely for people over 65 - because they cannot get an appointment with their GP.

"It needs to be stressed that the under-65 vaccine is not contraindicated for patients over the age of 65," he said.

However, Australian Medical Association Vice President, Dr Chris Moy, told News Corp that the reports about pharmacists failing to counsel patients about their options raised conflict of interest concerns.

"This is a conflict of interest issue and the management of it is different in pharmacies because they are selling something whereas doctors don't sell stuff for monetary gain," he said.