MORE than 70 community pharmacists across Queensland are being authorised to provide National Immunisation Program (NIP) funded influenza vaccines under a pilot program.
The trial will see selected pharmacies provide free flu shots to patients aged 65 years and older, bringing the State into line with the rest of the country (PD 28 Mar).
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen, welcomed the State Government's decision, saying it will ensure equitable access to flu vaccination services.
"We're just coming into flu season and this announcement could not have come at a better time," he said.
"Supporting all community pharmacies to provide all eligible Queenslanders with access to NIP funded vaccinations is a logical next step.
"The Queensland Government deserves to be commended for rolling out this pilot.
"[It] will mean better access to affordable influenza vaccines for patients aged 65 and over who live in regional areas of Queensland who may not be able to access a GP or other NIP vaccine provider.
"Community pharmacies servicing Warwick, Kingaroy, Ayr, Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Pialba, Mareeba, Ingham and other regional areas have been invited to participate.
"There are many communities in Queensland that do not have GP clinics or hospitals but do have access to a community pharmacy."
Owen added that the decision to launch the trial was an important step towards pharmacists being authorised to work to their full scope of practice.
"Community pharmacists are capable, accessible and well-equipped primary health care providers who want to better support patients," he said.
"While it is vital to allow access to NIP funded vaccines in community pharmacies within some rural and remote areas of the state, every eligible Queenslander should have access to NIP funded vaccinations at a location that is convenient and accessible, just as it was with the COVID-19 vaccination program.
"One of the key lessons from the pandemic is the more accessible a vaccine is, the higher the uptake will be and the higher the uptake, the more successful we will be in suppressing the virus."
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