Pharmacy vax fears misguided: PDL

WARNINGS from medical groups that the expansion of pharmacist administered vaccination services will put patient safety at risk are not concerning professional indemnity insurer, Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL).

Responding to concerns about the Queensland State Government’s decision to lower the minimum age of patients who pharmacists can provide influenza vaccinations to from 16 to 10 years (PD 25 Feb), raised by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland, PDL Professional Officer, Gary West, said there had been very few incidents reported relating to pharmacist vaccinations services.

“PDL is proud to support pharmacist vaccination as a recognised element of a pharmacist’s scope of practice,” he said.

“The range and number of vaccines administered by pharmacists has increased in recent years and PDL’s national reporting statistics indicate that pharmacist vaccination has an extremely low rate of incidents relative to the numbers vaccinated.

“The administration of certain vaccines to children is currently available in several States and data from PDL incident reports indicates this subset of clients also have an extremely low rate of incident reporting.

“PDL is always willing to support the profession to ensure any extension in the scope of practice or range of therapies is supported by appropriate risk management strategies.

“PDL encourages all pharmacists to ensure they have appropriate qualifications for any professional activity via recognised education and assessment programs.”

Despite PDL’s comments, former pharmacist and AMA Queensland GP spokesperson, Dr Nick Yim, said the move was “fraught with danger”.