FNQ pharmacy vaccination expands

THE Queensland Government has extended its support for in-school COVID-19 vaccinations (PD 14 Oct), with a program which had initially been set to roll out in private schools in the state’s far north now also extended to the public education sector.

Qld Premier Annastacia Palszczuk made the surprise announcement in Parliament on Fri, with the move welcomed by Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, who confirmed a signed agreement with the Government had been finalised.

“So now the Pharmacy Guild will be in contact with pharmacies so they can reach out to school principals to get the program up and running,” he said.

Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccination program had previously included pop-up weekend clinics for the whole community at selected high schools in the Darling Downs, Mackay, South-East and Central regions, while jabs had also previously been administered at some schools in the west and in the Torres Strait.

At this stage the extension of the pharmacy vaccinations to public schools is only for Far North Queensland institutions, with the government saying at this stage there were no plans to implement a statewide school-based COVID-19 vaccination program.

The first state school doses under the new scheme were administered at Mareeba State High School west of Cairns, delivered in partnership with Mareeba’s Wholelife Pharmacy and Healthfoods headed by local pharmacist Bianca Hope.

The program is open to students, subject to parental permission, as well as to school staff, with jabs delivered in school hours by qualified pharmacist immunisers.

Mareeba State High School Principal, Scott Whybird, who is pictured with Hope, said “the opportunity for students and staff to receive their vaccinations at school through the support of our local pharmacy has provided a safe and easily accessible choice for our students and staff”.