PHARMACISTS across Australia need to be given access to provide subsidised vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis believes.
Data collected by the Guild found the 2019 influenza season was worse than in 2017, which was dubbed "the worst on record", with 812 deaths as a result of the virus this year.
However, Tambassis noted the infection and death rates were lowest in Victoria, where pharmacists have been able to provide NIP vaccinations since 2017.
"In 2019, Australia has faced the worst flu seasons on record with a 20% increase in the number of reported flu cases compared with 2017," he said.
"This year 812 people tragically lost their lives to the flu nationally and there were more than 302,000 laboratory confirmed cases.
"We must be doing everything we can to reduce this figure, and we know that the only effective way to prevent the flu is through vaccination.
"Thanks to the affordability and convenience of a 'walk-in' appointment, more than two million Australians chose to get their flu vaccination from a pharmacist this year.
"While the role of pharmacists in mitigating the severity of the 2019 flu season should not be underestimated, we need to be doing all we can to vaccinate more people.
"We need to be doing everything we can to protect people who are most at risk -- including groups most affected by the flu like the elderly or people with asthma.
"That's why it makes sense to extend the free vaccine program to community pharmacies, so we can protect those Australians who are most at risk."
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