Travel vax package not enough

QUEENSLAND’S move to expand the range of vaccinations that pharmacists can administer is a “first step”, but “does not go far enough”, the State branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believes.

Responding to Queensland Health’s announcement that pharmacists in the state will be able to administer a range of travel vaccinations to patients age 16 years and older, and the decision to lower the minimum age for patients receiving influenza vaccines from pharmacists to 10 years (PD yesterday), Queensland Guild Branch President, Trent Twomey, said the change would help build herd immunity.

However, he added that access to a more comprehensive package of measures was needed to deliver a drastic improvement.

“A comprehensive travel medicines program needs to include all travel vaccinations to 10 years of age, relevant antibiotics and antimalarials and other agents for conditions such as altitude illness, venous thromboembolism and jet lag,” he said.

“Our strategic advocacy has got us to this point, but there is more work to be done.“

With an increase in the number of vaccine-preventable diseases being reported in the State, Twomey said the Guild would work with Queensland Health Minister, Dr Steven Miles, to ensure a comprehensive travel medicines and vaccination program is rolled out across the State.

He also noted Queensland’s 2019 flu season was the worst in close to 20 years, adding that with the global coronavirus outbreak the 2020 season was likely to be significant, and pharmacists would play to help build “community immunity” through in-store immunisation services.