Vax trial “irresponsible”
January 15, 2014
The Australian Medical
Association (AMA) has written to
Queensland’s chief health officer
about patient safety concerns
regarding the trial of pharmacists
providing flu vaccinations.
President Dr Steven Hambleton
said the Queensland trial should be
stopped immediately.
“Vaccinations...should be
performed by appropriately trained
and accredited health professionals
- doctors - or under direct
supervision of doctors in a safe
and private clinical environment,”
adding that patient safety could be
at risk if pharmacists participate in
the “irresponsible” trial.
He said issues included privacy,
training and side effects.
As reported yesterday (PD
14/01), immunisation expert at the
National Centre for Immunisation
Research & Surveillance (NCIRS) at
the Westmead Children’s Hospital,
Professor Robert Booy, said the trial
was taking a considered and careful
approach in getting appropriate
training and regulatory approval to
do an important pilot study.
Pharmacy Guild national president
George Tambassis said, “The AMA’s
criticisms are not driven by concerns
about patients but their preference
to retain control over all aspects of
the health system, even if it means
reduced access for patients.”
The Guild said that vaccination was
within the current scope of practice
of pharmacists with additional
training, was already safely
conducted in the UK, Ireland, NZ,
Canada and the USA and the pilot
followed consultation with Qld DoH
with appropriate legal approvals.
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