PHARMACEUTICAL wholesaler, Sigma Healthcare, is providing exclusive vaccination training to boost the number of pharmacist immunisers across its Amcal, Guardian and Discount Drug Store brands, ahead of the national COVID-19 vaccine (COVAX) rollout.
The company reported that the majority of Sigma-aligned pharmacies had participated in the formal expression of interest process ahead of Phase 2 of the Government's COVAX campaign.
Sigma's Chief Pharmacist, Brinley Hosking, said the wholesaler was focused on serving its pharmacy brands, so pharmacists on the frontline are prepared to meet the anticipated high demand for immunisation services.
"Right now, we know there is robust industry discussion playing out on how the rollout will be delivered and while we remain close and active in these conversations, planning and preparation is critical, so we are doing all that we can now to set up our teams for success," she said.
"Our intention remains the same - to enable our pharmacies to deliver the vaccine safely, efficiently and easily.
"To that end, our customer survey revealed most of our partners intend to offer the vaccine as part of the Phase 2 rollout, so we are bulk-sourcing a range of items that our pharmacies may require in preparation for the surging customer demand we expect to see throughout this year.
"These items include vaccine fridges, sharps disposal bins, defibrillators and PPE items.
"In addition, we're offering additional vaccination training opportunities for our pharmacy teams so we can support those on the frontline.
"This includes the rollout of Sigma-exclusive vaccination training sessions for our pharmacies who want to train up more pharmacists.
"This will enable more pharmacists to administer a variety of vaccines, including influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, so our customers can ensure their teams are ready to administer vaccinations as soon as possible and we can increase accessibility of vaccines for patients across our strong national footprint."
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