PSA NIP push for pharmacy
THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has urged the Federal Government to remunerate pharmacists through the National Immunisation Program (NIP), in line with payments for other health care professionals providing the service, such as nurses and GPs.
Such a move would broaden immunisation coverage and avoid community confusion, according to the Society’s national president, Dr Shane Jackson.
He has also stressed that the high strength trivalent influenza vaccine should be available through community pharmacy, urging the government and manufacturers to “provide access on the private market and not create disparity in care for individuals who choose to be vaccinated by a pharmacist”.
Jackson said pharmacists should inform patients that the highstrength trivalent vaccine is the recommended immunisation available on the NIP for those aged 65 and over, while a quadrivalent vaccine is suitable for others.
MEANWHILE the PSA has also noted the importance of flu shots for people not covered by the NIP as critical for boosting herd immunity.
Responding to AMA calls not to rush into pharmacies for immunisation against the influenza virus, the Society noted concerns that advice from medical organisations informing patients to delay vaccination would undermine the “world class effort that Australia is attempting to undertake in improving vaccination rates”.
“It’s simply not practical to expect the vaccinator workforce to vaccinate all people during May and June simply because this is considered ‘the most ideal timing’.
“There is no one-size-fitsall approach for the timing of vaccinations,” Jackson said.
“For many, the risk of not being vaccinated at all outweighs timing that is not considered as ideal.”
Jackson said vaccination timing was important as influenza was at its peak between Jul to Sep and the influenza vaccination has peak immunity three to four months after immunisation.
“This would place the ideal time for vaccination from late Apr to May, especially for those at highrisk of influenza,” Jackson said.
“Patients who are not eligible for the NIP vaccinations should be encouraged to make appointments for vaccinations as soon as is convenient,” he added.