The South Australian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia fully supports the extension of pharmacist vaccination to include administering flu vaccines for children from the age of 10.
This move brings Australia a step closer to national harmonisation of flu vaccination delivery though community pharmacies. It is a positive and timely step ahead of what threatens to be another bad season for influenza
This beneficial extension of pharmacist vaccination brings South Australia into alignment with most jurisdictions in Australia.
There is a very strong case for children as young as 10 years of age to be able to receive their annual vaccination against the flu from a community pharmacy by a trained pharmacist immuniser.
This measure will increase the rates of vaccination and help our goal of ‘herd immunity’ in the community to protect our most vulnerable from infection.
South Australian Branch President of the Pharmacy Guild, Nick Panayiaris, congratulated the State Government for implementing this sensible change that will see pharmacists vaccinate more South Australians.
We also continue to urge the inclusion of community pharmacies in the distribution of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines for at-risk patients.
Mr Panayiaris said pharmacist immunisers will be able to implement this change without any difficulty because they already receive the same training as other immunisers.
“Clearly pharmacists are part of the solution and giving pharmacists the ability to practise at their full scope, applying their training and expertise will bring great benefits to our health system.”
