Victorians to be better protected by removing barriers to vaccination by pharmacists

12 March 2020

 

Pharmacists will now be able to protect more Victorians against vaccine-preventable diseases in a move announced by the Victorian Government today that has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

 

For the first time, trained pharmacists in Victoria will be able to administer Meningococcal ACWY to people aged 15 years and over. The minimum age for pharmacist-administered measles-mumps-rubella and whooping cough vaccines has been lowered to people aged 15 years (previously 16 years)

 

In addition, as previously announced by Victoria Health Minister Jenny Mikakos last year, trained pharmacists will also be able to administer influenza vaccinations to people aged 10 years and above (previously 16 years and over). All changes will come into effect on 1 April 2020.

 

Changes to the Secretary Approval: Pharmacist Immunisers gazetted today will also allow greater flexibility for pharmacists to provide vaccinations via mobile and outreach services of a hospital, pharmacy or pharmacy depot.

 

PSA Victorian President John Jackson welcomed the move to increase access to pharmacist-administered vaccinations services in Victoria, and in particular to formally lower the minimum vaccination age from 16 years to 10 years for influenza vaccinations in readiness for the 2020 influenza season.

 

“At a time when our health care system is under extreme pressure, increasing options for Victorians to access vaccination services is extremely helpful,” Mr Jackson said.

 

“Our members have experienced parent’s frustrations in recent influenza seasons where it was difficult to arrange access for their children to get their seasonal influenza vaccine and these changes will go a long way to addressing this hurdle.”

 

Mr Jackson commended the government’s decision to allow pharmacists to protect more Victorians from influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

 

“Pharmacists are well trained in the administration of these vaccines and are more accessible to the community than any other health provider. Pharmacists have become an integral part of Victoria’s vaccination provider network, and these changes will allow pharmacists to make a greater contribution to increasing immunity in our community,” he said.

 

PSA commends the Victorian Government and the Department of Health and Human Services for continuing to support the use of pharmacists’ expertise and training.

 

“As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has advocated for many years, including most recently in PSA’s Victorian pre-budget submission, to allow pharmacists to deliver more vaccinations to a wider age range of patients. We will continue to work closely with the Victorian Government to remove more barriers which restrict pharmacists from administering other vaccines to protect the Victorian community.”

 

Media contact: Stefanie Johnston 0417 910 738

 

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Leading NSW pharmacists honoured

Friday, 6 March 2020

 

Forbes based pharmacist Sarah Hazell has received the NSW pharmacist of the year award at the Annual Celebration of Excellence in Pharmacy, hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

 

PSA NSW Branch President Professor Peter Carroll presented the award to Ms Hazell at the Crown Plaza in Terrigal on Friday night.

 

Jennifer Culverson won the NSW Early Career Pharmacist of the year award and Michael Flannery was presented with the NSW Lifetime Achievement honour.

 

Professor Carroll congratulated Ms Hazell for her continued commitment in providing positive health outcomes to the local community.

 

“Sarah has a great understanding of the Forbes local community and has shown a real focus on developing not just pharmacists’ career progressions but also pharmacy assistants, nurses and dispensary technicians,” said Professor Carroll.

 

“Among many of her achievements, Sarah has enhanced indigenous health by initiating a QUMAX agreement with local medical centres, also developing a health hub with health professionals utilising clinic rooms such as Podiatrists, a Registered Nurse, an Audiometrist and Physiotherapists.

 

“Sarah is a leader in her community and a mentor to young pharmacists and is a well-deserved winner of this award.”

 

Jennifer Culverson from Orange was also recognised for her achievements, receiving the NSW Early Career Pharmacist of the Year award.

 

“Not only is Jennifer heavily involved in the education of pharmacy students at Charles Sturt University, she has also played a key role within the respiratory space on the medical ward at Orange Health Service over the past twelve months,” Professor Carroll said.

 

“Jennifer has the upmost respect from her colleagues and has shown outstanding commitment to expand the pharmacists’ role within the hospital setting through research and innovation.

 

“Over a period of time, Jennifer has demonstrated admirable qualities and displayed a high level of drive, determination and passion to extend the role of a pharmacist in the rapidly changing field of healthcare.”

 

Jennifer was also the recipient of the PSA/Bayer ECP grant valued at $8,500, which supports early career pharmacists in attending the main conference program at PSA’s Offshore Conference in Edinburgh and Belfast in 2020.

 

Professor Carroll also congratulated Sydney based pharmacist Michael Flannery who was presented with the NSW Lifetime Achievement award.

 

“Michael is the perfect example of the community pharmacist and has shown terrific passion and dedication to the pharmacy profession over many years.

 

“Managing Director and founder of Instigo, Micahel is also the founder of Pharmacy Catalyst and CEO of Life Pharmacy Group that has numerous examples of partners who Michael has mentored and supported from school student, through cadetship, to intern to Pharmacist and through to owner.

 

“Michael has also represented the pharmacy industry nationally and internationally as well as sitting on a number of committees and working groups.”

 

PSA Contact: Simone Diamandis: 0414 574 754

Government decision will protect more SA children from influenza

Friday, 6 March 2020

 

South Australian children will have increased access to life saving vaccinations thanks to changes in pharmacists’ scope of practice announced today by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade.

 

“Last year we saw South Australia hit by one of the worst flu seasons on record and the best way to protect our community in the future is through immunisation,” Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) South Australian President, Robyn Johns said.

 

“The more barriers we can remove to people getting vaccinated the better. The goal is herd immunity, having as many members of our community protected from infectious diseases like the flu as possible.

 

“Research shows consumers find pharmacies highly accessible because there is usually one in our neighbourhood or nearby and they are generally open longer hours than other primary health care services.

 

“Pharmacists already provide a range of vaccinations including flu vaccinations for South Australians 16 years and over. Now, pharmacists can extend this proven, safe service to children 10 years of age and above.”

 

“The Government is to be commended for bringing South Australia into line with pharmacist vaccination in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania, leading the way for other jurisdictions.”

 

Pharmacists authorised to provide vaccination services are trained in the administration of medicines. Pharmacists’ training to administer vaccines is similar to that completed by other health care professionals. The administration of vaccines by pharmacists complements the excellent work done by GPs, nurses, indigenous health workers and other immunisers.

 

“We believe this decision will protect more South Australians from influenza by increasing immunisation rates within our community at a time when people are concerned about protecting themselves from the communicable diseases,” Ms Johns said.

 

“We need people to be protected from all vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly at this time when there are concerns about the impact of coronavirus in our community.”

 

PSA continues to advocate for a national approach to pharmacist administered vaccinations to reduce confusion, ensure better access for patients to quality vaccination services and utilise the pharmacist workforce appropriately.

 

Media contact: Helen Stone, 0418 846 426

Pharmacists to boost influenza vaccination rates for children in NSW

Pharmacists in New South Wales will be able to administer the influenza vaccination to children aged 10 and above, in a move announced by the NSW Government that has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

 

PSA NSW Branch President, Professor Peter Carroll, congratulated NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on today’s announcement to enable pharmacists to better protect the community from influenza from mid-March.

 

“This is a significant announcement from the NSW Government and will protect younger children from influenza and significantly increase immunisation rates in the state,” he said.

 

“During 2019, NSW recorded the highest confirmed cases of influenza in Australia with children particularly susceptible to the flu. Studies have found that less than a third of children are being immunised each flu season and influenza causes a substantial number of ICU admissions in Australian children each year.”

 

Professor Carroll said NSW children would now be better protected from influenza as today’s announcement would allow families greater access to the vaccine and was particularly timely with the upcoming flu season.

 

“Allowing pharmacists to vaccinate makes it more convenient for families, providing greater access to the influenza vaccine and improving rates of immunisation,” he said.

 

“Already, this year there has been 4,725 confirmed cases of influenza in NSW and with the likely convergence of a COVID-19 pandemic with winter influenza, this move will help to bolster immunity in NSW.

 

“Boosting vaccination rates and preventing influenza outbreaks can ease pressure on our GP surgeries and hospital emergency departments.

 

Professor Carroll said as the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has previously advocated, including most recently in PSA’s NSW pre-budget submission, to allow pharmacists to improve access to influenza vaccinations for adolescents.

 

“PSA commends the NSW Government and NSW Health for continuing to progress recommendations made to better protect the community,” he said.

 

Media contact: PSA NSW State Manager, Simone Diamandis – (02) 9431 1100

Leading SA and NT pharmacists honoured

Respected Northern Territory pharmacist Shelley Forester has received the SA/NT Pharmacist of the Year Award at the Annual Celebration of Excellence in Pharmacy hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

 

SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing, the Hon Stephen Wade MLC presented the award to Ms Forester at the Adelaide Pavilion on Friday night.

 

Dr Renly Lim from South Australia won the SA/NT Early Career Pharmacist Development Award and Raymond Truong was presented with the 2019 PSA Gold Medal.

 

PSA SA/NT President Robyn Johns congratulated Ms Forester and commended her significant contribution in the establishment and operation of the Maningrida Pharmacy service with Mala’la Health Service in 2014.

 

“This service was a pioneer of how a community pharmacy and an ACCHO can collaborate to improve the access to a pharmacist for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” said Ms Johns.

 

“Shelley has been a longtime supporter of the NT Pharmacy Program and is a critical supporter of local PSA initiatives including the Early Career Pharmacist and My Health Record.”

 

“Not only is Shelley a terrific mentor for early career pharmacists but she has also shown a commitment in hiring NT interns and is a worthy recipient for the SA/NT Pharmacist of the Year award in recognition of her tireless dedication to NT Pharmacy.”

 

President elect of the Young Pharmacists’ Group FIP Dr Renly Lim received the SA/NT Early Career Pharmacist Development Award.

 

“Dr Lim is an outstanding early career research pharmacist who is significantly contributing to the development of the pharmacy profession nationally and internationally,” said Ms Johns.

 

“Not only is Dr Lim an existing leader for young pharmacists internationally, she was also lead author of PSA’s Medicine Safety report, providing the evidence which led to quality use of medicines and medicine safety becoming Australia’s 10^th national health priority.”

 

Ms Johns also congratulated PSA Gold Medal winner Raymond Truong, who completed the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at the University of South Australia in 2019.

 

“Raymond is entering his intern year and is a well-deserved winner of the 2019 PSA Gold Medal Award.”

 

Media contact: Helen Stone 0418846426

 

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Increased Home Medicine Review caps from March 2020 will help reduce the harm caused by medicines

Friday, 28 February 2020

 

Australia’s elderly will be better supported to avoid medicine-related harm under a relaxing of caps restricting access to Home Medicine Reviews (HMRs) announced today.

 

In changes announced today, accredited pharmacists will be able to provide up to 30 HMRs per month from 1 March 2020, an increase of the current 20 HMRs per month cap which has existed since February 2014.

 

“PSA welcomes this change which will help increase consumer access to HMRs across the country,” National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman said. “PSA have been calling for better access to medicine reviews for some time, most recently through recommendations contained in our Medicine Safety: Aged care report released earlier this week.”

 

“Medicine-related problems lead to 250,000 hospital admissions each year costing $1.4 billion annually. Medicine review services undertaken by accredited pharmacists, such as HMRs, are a key way in which problems with medicines are identified and resolved in partnership with consumers and their general practitioner.”

 

Home Medicine Reviews not only can improve a patient’s quality of life, but can save lives. We know that patients who take more than one medicine can be at risk of major problems associated with their medicines. Home Medication Reviews can improve the outcomes from medicine use in Australia, said Associate Professor Freeman.

 

“Our members have told us of significant delays consumers have experienced waiting for the calendar to tick over to the next month before being able to receive a HMR from their pharmacist who has hit their HMR cap for the month”, Associate Professor Freeman said. “Australians living in rural and remote parts of the country are one of the main groups to struggle with health care accessibility. The cap of 20 HMRs per month particularly hits hard on consumers living in rural communities where there is usually no other accredited pharmacists available to provide the service.”

 

“PSA has called for the removal of these caps since their inception. We would like to thank the Minister for Health for this announcement today on behalf of all pharmacists and their patients. We are pleased with today’s announcement as a first step and we are committed to continue working with Government to further improve access to medicine review services.”

 

Media contact: PSA Media – 0487 922 176