THE vaccination scope has been expanded in Qld yesterday, with the new Extended Practice Authority (EPA) to allow pharmacists to vaccinate Queenslanders aged two years and older.
It also authorises pharmacists to deliver vaccinations in more settings, including general practices, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health services, and aged care facilities.
Pharmacists will now be able to deliver a wider range of vaccines including hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), meningococcal B, human papillomavirus, typhoid fever, herpes zoster, and Japanese encephalitis.
PSA Qld President Shane MacDonald welcomed the move by the Qld Govt.
"PSA has strongly advocated for pharmacists across all health settings to able to deliver more vaccines to patients of all ages.
"This is a great step toward pharmacists practising to our full potential to support the health of our communities.
"PSA also supports the authorisation of pharmacists to administer prescribed medicines in the new EPA.
"This is a common sense, consumer-centric approach that will support patients experiencing issues with administering their medications or accessing a health professional to administer them."
PSA National President Dr Fei Sim said it was vital for regulations around vaccination to be consistent across all states and territories and for them to follow the Qld Govt's lead.
"At the moment, every jurisdiction in Australia has different regulations around pharmacist-administered vaccinations." JG
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