The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has awarded the Distinguished Service Medallion to Lieutenant General John Frewen.
The award was in recognition of Lieutenant General Frewen’s achievements as Coordinator General of the National COVID Vaccine Taskforce.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, presented the award during the Guild’s annual dinner, held at Parliament House in Canberra on 23 November.
Lieutenant General Frewen was recognised as playing a pivotal role during COVID-19 in bringing community pharmacies into the rollout, thereby lifting vaccination rates.
“There was no more accessible place for Australians to go for health advice and their vaccine during the pandemic than their local community pharmacist,” Mr Butler said.
Instrumental in pharmacy vaccine rollout
National President of the Pharmacy Guild Professor Trent Twomey said Lieutenant General Frewen’s initiative in bringing community pharmacies into the vaccination rollout was instrumental in maximising the uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations.
“Since Lieutenant General Frewen made that decision and community pharmacies began vaccinating for COVID-19 in July last year, we have delivered some 9.5 million doses to patients across the country,” Professor Twomey said.
“That’s 9.5 million doses helping Australians protect themselves against this virus and remain healthy or minimise the effects of the virus if they contract it.
“The accessibility of community pharmacies and the fact they are open later and longer has meant that patients have been able to get their vaccination easily and when it suits them.
“Lieutenant General Frewen recognised this and saw the pivotal role community pharmacies could play.
“It was one of the most significant health policy decisions we saw during the pandemic,” he said.
