Vic grants support COVAX workforce

COMMUNITY pharmacies in 11 Victorian Local Government Areas (LGAs) will be eligible to access grants of up to $10,000 to cover costs associated with boosting their COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) services.

The State Government has announced an Expression of Interest (EoI) process for GPs and pharmacies in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, to “turbocharge the local rollout of COVAX” and support them “to fund additional workforce or operational costs associated with the effort”.

Under the COVAX Enhancement Grants program successful applicants will be able to access 120 grants of $4,000, with funding allocated to increase up to 10 of those to $10,000, “if providers can demonstrate further capacity to deliver”.

Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, said the allocation of funding to the program reflected the urgent need to increase uptake in Melbourne’s young and diverse outer suburban communities.

“What matters is not the name of the vaccine, or whether its stored in a fridge at a small clinic or a mass vaccination [hub],” he said.

“What matters is getting it into people’s arms and that’s what these grants are all about.

“Supply to our GPs and pharmacies is improving, and this is a great opportunity for the Commonwealth to provide even more doses to local settings in areas with the most cases.”

Welcoming the new grants scheme, Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, said that the funding would “help boost capacity of pharmacies and general practices to expand COVAX service in the areas of greatest urgency and need”.

“As the most frequently visited and accessible primary care destination in Australia – pharmacies are already playing a major role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout with almost 700,000 doses delivered nationally and almost 130,000 doses in Victoria alone to date.

“With the arrival of Moderna into pharmacy fridges, these numbers are already increasing quickly.

“As the Premier has said, it does not matter where the vaccine is stored and where it’s been administered from, as long as it reaches a patient’s arm.

“Every little needle in an arm is a little win and another small step towards easing COVID restrictions and returning to the things we love.”

Pharmacies in the Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darbin, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Moreland, Melton, Whittlesea and Wyndham LGAs seeking to access the program have until midday on Sun 03 Oct to submit an EoI, demonstrating they have the capacity to maximise their dose administration in the weeks commencing 04 and 11 Oct.

Successful applicants will be notified by Mon 04 Oct, and will be invited to a briefing that evening, with funding to be released “as soon as practicable”.

CLICK HERE to access the EoI form.