Western Australians will be better protected following an announcement by the WA Government that will allow pharmacists to administer vaccinations outside of a community pharmacy.
Pharmacists will now be able to provide vaccinations to patients in places such as aged care settings, public and private hospitals and community health centres as well as community pharmacies.
PSA WA Branch President Dr Fei Sim welcomes the announcement which will help ensure those most vulnerable in the community can receive vital vaccinations for preventable diseases such as influenza.
“Pharmacists are more than capable of providing this service to Western Australians and this initiative will be particularly beneficial to patients that have difficulties accessing vaccinations, such as those who are housebound or residents of aged care facilities,” she says.
“At a time when those most vulnerable in our communities are hesitant or not willing to go out in public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing options for those people to access vital vaccinations is essential.
“I thank the WA Government for this decision that will allow pharmacists to help vaccinate more people and increase immunisation rates within the community.”
PSA has continually called for WA residents to be provided better access to immunisation services through the removal of artificial barriers to pharmacist-administered vaccination.
“As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA will continue to work with the WA Government to remove barriers which restrict pharmacists from administering vaccines to better protect the community,” says Dr Sim.
“This includes making regulative changes to enable appropriately trained pharmacists to administer vaccines which can be administered by other immunisers.”
