The Rockliff Government has given Tasmanian pharmacists the green light to deliver flu vaccines to people aged 5 years plus, a move that has been applauded by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
“Pharmacists are well placed to support the uptake of influenza vaccines in young Tasmanians,” PSA Tasmania President David Peachey MPS said.
Mr Peachey says that with most Tasmanians now able to receive their flu vaccine from their local community pharmacy, this will make it easier for families to get their yearly immunisations.
“PSA has strongly advocated for pharmacist-immunisers to be able to deliver more vaccines to patients of all ages,” he said.
“This is a great first step for pharmacists to be able to do more to support the health of our communities, but there is more work to be done.”
The decision by the Rockliff Government to allow pharmacists to administer influenza vaccines to all Tasmanians aged 5 years and over brings regulations on pharmacist-administered influenza vaccines in line with pharmacist-administered vaccines for COVID-19.
The PSA is a strong advocate of pharmacist-administered vaccines. In their submission to the 2023-24 Budget Consultation the organisation “call for all National Immunisation Program vaccines to be accessible via pharmacists”.
Mr Peachey says that this would “not only boost vaccination rates and reduce the incidence of preventable disease”, but it would also “increase vaccine access and uptake”.
“We look forward to working with Premier Rockliff and his Government to ensure that all Tasmanians have equitable access to vaccines,” he said.
