Pharmacy Daily | Pharmacists prepped and ready to go

COMMUNITY pharmacists are ready, willing and able to join the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout campaign as soon as they receive approval, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, believes.

The Pharmacy Programs Administrator (PPA) had been expected to approve expression of interest submissions from pharmacies on 19 Mar, however, that was subsequently pushed back until 12 Apr, with final assessment activities to be undertaken in May, delaying pharmacists' involvement in the campaign until Jun at the earliest.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, rejected suggestions that the expansion of the program to include pharmacist immunisers was falling behind schedule.

"It was always mid-year," he said.

"We were always working to mid-year.

"Pharmacists were not coming in until the next phase, and so I welcome their enthusiasm and willingness to want to be involved in this, and when we reach that stage where they can be involved then they'll be involved."

Twomey told Pharmacy Daily that the Guild supported the national rollout strategy, with pharmacists "prepared and ready to go" when the PPA grants approval to individual stores.

"We've done all the mandatory training required for all COVID vaccine providers, including GPs and nurses," he said.

"Last year community pharmacies provided an estimated three million influenza vaccinations, and we'll do it again, and more this year.

"Some 97% of Australians live less than 3km from their local pharmacy - which makes us one of the most accessible primary healthcare providers nationally.

"We understand the Government will bring us on as part of Phase 2a, which was due to start in May, but has now been pushed back to Jun, and we remain keen to play our role in dealing wiht the pandemic."

Meanwhile, community pharmacies which receive PPA approval are expected to receive up to 50 doses a week once Phase 2a begins.

Metropolitan-based pharmacies will receive $16 per patient for the first dose administered, with a $26 payment for the second, when provided at the same pharmacy, while region, rural and remote stores will receive $19 for the first shot and $29 for the second.