Community pharmacies across the country have administered one million Moderna vaccines since joining the rollout in July.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia- National President, Trent Twomey, welcomed the milestone and thanked all participating pharmacies for their selfless contributions in bolstering the country’s vaccine rollout program.
“Community pharmacies have done an incredible job administering one million Moderna vaccines, especially since they only joined the rollout in late July,” Mr Twomey said.
“There is no doubt in my mind community pharmacies have driven vaccination across the country by offering convenient services that are easily accessible.”
On average, 81.5 per cent of all Australians live within 2.5km of their closest community pharmacy, making pharmacies ideal locations to get vaccinated at a time and location that suits you.
Following an announcement by the Federal Government last month, all three Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)-approved COVID-19 vaccines, including the Pfizer vaccine, are available at your community pharmacy.
This announcement also highlighted the provisional approval of the Pfizer vaccine for booster use, as the country kicks off its booster program.
It is expected that the Moderna vaccine will follow shortly.
“With all three TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccines available in community pharmacies, access to vaccine choice is now a reality Australia-wide, as long as the individual is eligible,” Mr Twomey said.
Australia’s vaccine rollout is picking up pace with the TGA having provisionally approved the Moderna vaccine for children aged between 5-11.
“With Christmas around the corner, friends and families are planning to reconnect over the holiday season,” Mr Twomey said.
“Getting children vaccinated ensures that your children are protected and also decreases the risk of them carrying and infecting older, and more vulnerable, members of your family and wider community.
“Plenty of vaccine stock is still available around the country, with 168,700 Moderna, 98,800 Pfizer and 37,100 AstraZeneca doses ordered by community pharmacies for next week.
“Appointments can be made online by visiting findapharmacy.com.au, or alternatively there are a number of walk-in options.”
Mr Twomey assured that anyone administering a COVID-19 vaccine in a community pharmacy setting has undergone the Commonwealth’s mandatory training with the Australian College of Nurses on the specific vaccine being used.
