Pharmacists leading public health transformation

Sofia and Irfan Hashmi from TerryWhite Chemmart Cumberland Park in SA

World Pharmacists Day (25 September 2020) is a day that celebrates and acknowledges pharmacists for their role in transforming global health – a role that has been particularly evident throughout the global Covid-19 pandemic.

As pharmacists around the world celebrate World Pharmacists Day, TerryWhite Chemmart (TWC) Pharmacists look forward to leading more improvements in 2020 and beyond, particularly in providing professionalism and convenience to Australians through their vaccination services.

While TWC has delivered more than 550,000 influenza vaccinations this year via its Pharmacist Immunisers, TWC Pharmacists are preparing for a substantial increase in demand for its vaccination services in the year ahead with a potential Covid-19 vaccine.

“We are already in an incredibly strong position to make a huge impact on the lives of Australians next year, if and when a Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out,” says TWC Chief Pharmacist, Brenton Hart.

“We welcome the comments from the Prime Minister, that the Covid-19 vaccinations will be free to the public, and we look forward to understanding the role that pharmacists will play in supporting what will be one of the most essential public health services in recent times.

“We continue to partner with the PSA [Pharmaceutical Society of Australia] on training to increase the volume of pharmacist immunisers, which are now already over 1,000 across the network.

“We will also be stepping up our workplace and community vaccination programs to expand our reach into the community.”

Having this year established his own successful initiative of delivering free flu vaccines to vulnerable members of local multicultural communities, owner of TWC Cumberland Park in SA, Irfan Hashmi is completely in support of a vaccine program that will improve patient outreach.

“I am incredibly proud that this year our ‘Healthy Communities’ initiative meant we could deliver more than 1000 free flu vaccinations with 23 clinics, both in the pharmacy and out in the community,” says Mr Hashmi.

“Community pharmacists are already one of the most accessible health professionals, so any vaccination program that creates better access and increases vaccination rates will go a long way to helping improve herd immunity.”