Media release – Tasmanian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 28 June 2021
TASMANIAN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES TO JOIN THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL-OUT
The Tasmanian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the announcement that Tasmania will, over the next few weeks, commence the process to include community pharmacies in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
The guild was pleased to hear Secretary of the Department of Health, Ms Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, state on Friday (25 June) that pharmacists are to be involved in the next stages of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, and that the identification, timing and authorisation of the first community pharmacies in regional areas to come on board in the rollout is currently being working through.
The guild’s Branch President, Helen O’Byrne said “we are very pleased that Tasmania will now join other state and territory governments to initiate the process to include community pharmacies in the rollout.”
“The guild will work closely with the government and the Health Department to ensure selected community pharmacies can start providing COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as possible – we are hopeful of an end of July start.”
The guild has strongly advocated for the community pharmacy network in regional areas across Australia to be included in the rollout to ensure broad community access to COVID-19 vaccination. All other states and territories (with the exception of the ACT) have started to roll out COVID-19 vaccination services across selected community pharmacy locations.
Tasmania has so far achieved a solid vaccination rate, with well over 200,000 vaccinations provided to Tasmanians. Approximately 40,000 Tasmanians have received their second dose.
Ms O’Byrne said that “incorporating community pharmacies, particularly in regional areas, into the roll out efforts will undoubtedly bolster the numbers of Tasmanians receiving the vaccination and help speed up vaccination rates further – making the target of full vaccination by the end of the year an achievable objective”.
“Community pharmacists are highly accessible and trusted health care professionals who have done the same training as doctors and nurse immunisers”. Ms O’Byrne said. “Importantly particularly in regional areas our pharmacies are already there within the community and set up to provide vaccination services – we can hit ground running.”
As Australia deals with outbreaks of the highly infectious Delta strain of the virus spreading across a number of states, and Tasmania has closed its borders to areas deemed as high risk, Ms O’Byrne highlighted the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination as the best defence against serious illness from contracting the virus.
“We must encourage everyone who is eligible to receive their vaccination to do so, to protect themselves and their loved ones”, Ms O’Byrne. “For people who have concerns, their local community pharmacy is an excellent, accessible source of up to date clinical information and their pharmacists are able to provide reassurance to their local community.”
Ms O’Byrne also reminded people to remain vigilant against seasonal influenza and make sure that they receive their annual flu shot.
“Community pharmacies in Tasmania have reported a much slower uptake of flu vaccinations this year after last year’s surge in demand. I encourage people to talk with their pharmacist or GP about influenza vaccines and the timing between flu and COVID-19 vaccinations”, Ms O’Byrne said.
