Pharmacy Daily | Roll-on pharmacy COVAX roll out

ALMOST all of the 4,090 community pharmacies that submitted expression of interest applications to join the COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) rollout campaign are suitable to provide vaccines, the Pharmacy Programs Administrator (PPA) says.

In an update released to pharmacy owners late last week the PPA said stores deemed "suitable" would be put forward to the Federal Department of Health "for potential selection to participate in the COVAX rollout".

However, the statement added that "being deemed suitable does not mean the pharmacy will be invited to participate".

In a joint statement released this morning, Queensland branches of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, called on the State and Federal governments to engage community pharmacies as soon as possible.

Guild Queensland Branch Acting President, Chris Owen, said the need for community pharmacists to be involved in the rollout nationally was vital, but more acute in the Sunshine State.

"For several years, community pharmacies across Australia have been safely and intimately involved in the rollout of critical vaccination programs," he said.

"The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is the most critical health initiative in our generation.

"Given the need to vaccinate as many Australians as quickly as possible and the decentralised nature of our state, community pharmacies must be part of the solution."

PSA Queensland Branch President, Shane MacDonald, echoed Owen's call, describing the involvement of community pharmacists in the campaign as "imperative to leading the State out of the pandemic".

"While some Queensland pharmacists in hospitals, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and general practice are already administering COVID-19 vaccines, the majority of pharmacists are currently on the sidelines ready and eager to help," he said.

"As the supply of the vaccine increases, patients need community pharmacists on board so that a lack of available providers does not become the next barrier in slowing the vaccine's uptake.

"On Friday, the Department of Health advised that 4,000 community pharmacies are suitable COVID-19 vaccination sites, so the sooner we get them started the better."