Qld pharmacies deliver 25k flu jabs

COMMUNITY pharmacies across Queensland are bracing for a surge in demand for influenza vaccination services, after the State Government announced it would fund free shots until 30 Jun.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen, reported that in the four days since the Government announced it would subsidise vaccinations, thousands of patients have accessed free shots through community pharmacies.

The program is open to Queensland residents aged five to 64 years, who are ineligible for flu vaccines through the Commonwealth-funded National Immunisation Program (NIP), with pharmacies receiving a $21.95 fee for each vaccination administered (PD 24 May).

“Almost 200,000 Queenslanders have already chosen to receive their flu vaccinations through community pharmacies since 01 Mar,” he said.

“With this week’s announcement of free influenza vaccines until the end of Jun, we’re expecting that number to rise significantly.

“Approximately 25,000 Queenslanders have already accessed a free influenza vaccine through community pharmacies in under four days, with tens of thousands of more bookings already made.

“I’m hearing from community pharmacists across the state that there has been a lot of interest from Queenslanders looking to take advantage of the free vaccines.”

Owen said existing infrastructure from the Guild’s Corporate Health Program, including GuildLink software to record vaccination services to the Australian Immunisation Register, and its Standing Offer Arrangement (SOA) with the Queensland Government, had enabled pharmacies to roll out free vaccines within hours of the announcement on Mon.

“Without this software and SOA, the State would not have been able to move so quickly,” he said.

The Guild has also launched a new website - www.qldfreevax.com.au - to help consumers to book free flu vaccination appointments at their local community pharmacy.

Other State and Territory Governments are expected to announce the rollout of similar free flu vaccination schemes in the coming days.