PATIENTS in rural and remote parts of Queensland are the first in Australia to be eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX) from community pharmacies.
Pharmacist immuniser, Sue Pocock, from Footes Boonah Pharmacy, became the country's first pharmacist immuniser to administer a dose of COVAX in a community pharmacy this morning, when she gave the jab to Pharmacy Guild of Australia Executive Director, Suzanne Greenwood.
Guild Queensland Branch Acting President, Chris Owen, welcomed the start of the COVAX rollout through pharmacies, with 49 of the 56 stores that were initially slated to join the campaign offering free vaccines to their communites from today.
"We're very proud to once again be leading the way in Queensland," Owen said.
"The Federal and State Governments have shown great leadership in ensuring Queensland pharmacies would be able to make sure communities across Queensland would have access to COVAX.
"Community pharmacies have a proud history of being at the forefront of supporting patients through the best primary healthcare practices.
"The rollout of the COVAX is the most critical health initiative in our generation, and community pharmacies are well placed to deliver."
Guild National President, Trent Twomey, said empowering pharmacists to administer COVAX was "a watershed moment in helping maximise the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia".
"This makes it far more convenient for patients to be able to get their vaccination," he said.
As the first person to receive a COVAX shot in a community pharmacy, Greenwood expressed her confidence in the profession's ability to play a key role in the campaign.
"Knowing the training pharmacist have undergone, and the stringent approval process they have been subjected to, gave me extreme confidence in having my vaccination delivered at a community pharmacy," she said.
Pictured, Guild Executive Director, Suzanne Greenwood, being immunised by pharmacist, Sue Pocock at Footes Boonah Pharmacy.
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