Fired up for shots

larly those who had never received an influenza vaccine before.

In the trial, almost 11,000 people were vaccinated — 15 per cent had never been vaccinated before while 40 per cent were “walk-in” patients who had not made an appointment.

Since that trial was undertaken, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales have introduced legislative changes to permit pharmacist vaccinations.

“The Queensland pilot demonstrates that pharmacy vaccination will increase the level of vaccination within the Tasmanian community by providing easy-access, cost-effective services,” Mr Luckman said.

“Pharmacists are medicines experts and a trusted source of health care advice in the community.”

The Emergency Medicine Foundation said the flu season traditionally peaked in August but was hitting Australians earlier this year, as it did in North America and Europe.

The foundation said flu cases across the nation were already 60 per cent higher than last year and while influenza A was still the most dominant strain, influenza B — which is responsible for most flu-related hospitalisations — was on the increase.