PHARMACIST immunisers in NSW should be given access to a greater range of vaccines and Government funding to boost vaccination uptake, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) believes.
In the PSA NSW Branch's 2021/22 NSW Pre-Budget Submission, the organisation has called for pharmacists to be authorised to provide vaccines through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and other state-funded immunisations, for patients aged 10 years and older.
PSA NSW Branch President, Chelsea Felkai, also called on the State Government to implement regulatory changes required to administer COVID-19 and travel vaccines.
"Australian pharmacists have been administering vaccines safely and effectively since 2014 and across all States and Territories since 2016," she said.
"Community pharmacists provide an accessible and safe location for the delivery of vaccination services and by improving vaccination rates, pharmacies can help ease pressure on general practice and hospital emergency departments.
"PSA recommends using pharmacist immunisers for large scale rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in NSW and ensuring the COVID-19 vaccine and service is funded when administered by any trained immuniser, including pharmacists.
"If the goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible, safely and as soon as possible, then pharmacist immunisers must be involved in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine".
Highlighting the success of British and Canadian pharmacy-based minor ailments programs, the PSA's submission urged the State Government to allocate $7.5 million a year to encourage patients with non-urgent conditions to go to their community pharmacy rather than local hospital for treatment.
"There is strong evidence that the clinical advice provided by community pharmacists regarding symptoms of minor illness results in the same health outcomes as if the patient went to see their GP or attended the emergency department," Felaki said.
The PSA also called for State funding to embed pharmacists in aged care facilities to boost medicines safety.
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