Pharmacies to Provide COVID Booster Vaccines

Media release –  Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmanian Branch, 11 November 2021

Tasmanian Pharmacists get Green Light to provide Covid-19 Booster Vaccine

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmanian Branch President, Helen O’Byrne, has welcomed the State Health Department’s approval for pharmacist immunisers working in community pharmacies across Tasmania to provide Pfizer booster vaccines, in line with the Federal Government’s announcement late last month.

“As soon as the Federal Minister for Health announced that COVID-19 vaccine booster shots would be made available through community pharmacies, we had patients asking for them”, Ms O’Byrne said.

“Pharmacies across Tasmania have already provided over 30,000 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccinations. Now we have the go ahead at the state level, we will be able to support requests from people eligible to receive their booster as well”, Ms O’Byrne said.

“Regardless of where someone received their original COVID-19 vaccinations, whether that was through a state clinic, or from a general practitioner, they are able to receive their booster at any participating community pharmacy.”

The Pfizer vaccine is currently the only TGA approved vaccination for boosters and will be provided to people over the age of 18, regardless of the original vaccines received.

Ms O’Byrne said that boosters are provided 6 months after the second dose and, as participating pharmacies are able to access the Australian Immunisation Register, people can be assured that the correct required intervals between doses will be met. The booster will also be recorded on the patient’s immunisation record as required by the Government.

“I encourage everyone who is eligible to book in for their booster shot now”, Ms O’Byrne said. “And if you haven’t yet been vaccinated please do it now – it really is your best defence against serious and deadly illness from this virus.”