Pharmacy flu vax ready

QUEENSLAND-BASED pharmacists would welcome the opportunity to play a role in the distribution of free influenza vaccines, a spokesperson for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia says.

Commenting on Queensland Health Minister, Yvette D’Ath’s call for the Federal Government to expand access to National Immunisation Program (NIP) flu shots for all Australians, to combat the rapid spread of the virus this winter (PD 19 May), the Guild spokesperson told Pharmacy Daily that authorising pharmacists to participate in an expanded scheme would be a logical step.

“Pharmacists are the most accessible, safe and convenient immunisers in our primary health care system, it makes sense to utilise them further,” the spokesperson said.

“The Guild welcomes the Queensland Government NIP Pilot, if the Commonwealth opens up access to further flu vaccinations, we’d expect to play a role.”

With Queensland reporting a significant increase in confirmed flu cases this week, D’Ath said that she wanted to ensure barriers to accessing the vaccine, including cost, are removed.

MEANWHILE, the latest Influenza Report Card from vaccine manufacturer, Sanofi, reported that as of 08 May, there had been 10,599 confirmed cases of flu nationwide, with 153 hospitalisations.

The report also revealed that 13% of the population aged five to 64 years, who are not currently eligible for flu jabs through the NIP, have received a shot this year (as of 16 May) compared to 26% in 2021, while half of the over 65 age group, and 8% of those aged six months to five years, have accessed free flu vaccines to date.

Of the 5,045,235 flu jabs administered up to 16 May, 13% have been given through the community pharmacy sector.