PHARMACIST immunisers in Tasmania are now able to initiate and administer a broader range of vaccines to children following yesterday's expansion of the Tasmanian Authorised Pharmacist Immuniser and Program Guidelines.
Authorised pharmacist immunisers will be able to vaccinate children aged from two against the flu, and also initiate and administer a greater range of vaccines to kids aged between five and 10 years.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has strongly welcomed the move as a "significant step forward" and an important strategy to address declining vaccination rates in vulnerable and priority population groups.
"Pharmacists across Tasmania are really pleased by these improvements to access for childhood vaccination," said PSA Tasmania president Joanne Gross.
"Too often we experience the frustration of parents who have needed to visit multiple vaccination providers to protect the whole family each year.
"These changes will largely remove this burden."
However, the PSA is urging the government to go further in removing barriers to vaccination by adopting the Australian Immunisation Handbook as the Tasmanian pharmacist immuniser formulary.
This follows recent regulatory changes in South Australia and Queensland permitting all vaccines to be initiated to individuals of all ages, and is in line with the Tasmanian government's pre-election commitments.
"We looking forward to working with the government to see the realisation of their pre-election commitment to increase the range of vaccinations available from appropriately trained pharmacists in line with the Australian Immunisation Handbook, including vaccines for travel health," Gross concluded. KB
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