A ‘momentous’ day: PSA welcomes start of vaccine roll out

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia – the peak organisation representing Australia’s 34,000 pharmacists – has labelled today a momentous day in Australia’s history as Phase 1a of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy commences.

 

PSA National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, said pharmacists across Australia are excited by the first doses being administered today as the COVID-19 vaccine roll out marks the beginning of Australia’s exit from the pandemic.

 

‘Australia’s health response to the pandemic has been led by expert scientific health advice, and our national COVID-19 vaccination strategy is no different,” A/Prof Freeman said.

 

‘All Australians can have confidence in the safety and effectiveness of approved COVID-19 vaccines which will be administered by competent, well-trained vaccinators, including pharmacists.”

 

Pharmacists working in Victoria’s COVID-19 hubs are among the first frontline health workers to be immunised against COVID-19 today ahead of going into quarantine hotels to support the workforce vaccination program this week.

 

PSA has worked with the Australian Government as well state and territory health departments in preparing for today’s roll-out. This includes consultation to support recent regulatory milestones, including:

• • Victoria has issued a Public Health Emergency Order providing approval for pharmacists and nurse immunisers to administer COVID-19 vaccines;
  • South Australia has issued approval for pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccine; and
  • The Northern Territory Parliament passed regulations last week to allow all authorised immunisers, including pharmacists, to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

 

These jurisdictions join Queensland in authorising pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines. PSA will continue to inform members as other states and territories update their regulations.

 

Pharmacists have shown enthusiasm in the COVID-19 vaccinator workforce:

 

“Around 1,000 pharmacist registered for a PSA COVID-19 webinar last week – keen to learn how they can support the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, and stand willing and able to protect the Australia community against this awful disease,” A/Prof Freeman said.

 

‘PSA will continue to support the profession through the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, including training more pharmacists to become vaccinators, maintaining our leading COVID-19 microsite and working with governments around the country to ensure the roll-out reaches as many Australians as possible.”

 

Media contact: PSA media 0487 922 176