Pharmacies hold 1.1m COVAX doses

CALLS for pharmacies to share excess stock of COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX) appear to be falling on deaf ears, with 1.15 million doses currently sitting in stores’ fridges across the country.

Data provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health revealed community pharmacies administered 114,346 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the week to 15 Sep, with stores ordering 183,400 additional doses during the same period.

Speaking at a Pharmacy Guild of Australia webinar last week, National President, Trent Twomey, urged pharmacy owners to share stock, rather than dipping into Commonwealth supplies.

“There’s an awful lot of stock sitting in fridges,” he said.

“My call out to all of you is the quickest way for you to order stock is to transfer it from a mate.

“If you’re out there and you’re running low on AstraZeneca, please don’t order more from the Commonwealth.

“Please call your mate down the road, who is probably sitting on an awful lot and get them to transfer it to you - it’s completely fine to horizontally move stock, you just need to update the COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering System (CVAS) every Fri to say you’ve either transferred it out or you’ve accepted it.

“Please share out the remaining AstraZeneca stock.”

While pharmacies’ stockpiles of COVAX continue to grow, the sector surpassed the 500,000 doses administered milestone, with the total number standing at 522,439 as of 5pm (AEST) yesterday.

NSW continues to lead the way, administering 307,900 doses to date, followed by Victoria (87,900) and Queensland (71,800).