LIFE Pharmacy Group (LPG) pharmacists administered 479 COVID-19 vaccinations to aged care residents at 10 regional and remote sites across New South Wales during the Christmas/New Year period.
It comes as figures show that just 38% of aged care residents have received a COVID-19 booster shot.
LPG pharmacists from Forbes, Parkes, Dubbo, and Bathurst have been travelling across the state to deliver, and administer, hundreds of vaccinations to patients in residential aged care facilities during the holiday period.
'Flying Pharmacist' Jack Buckley (pictured), recently shared his work on TV program Sunrise.
Combining his love of helping people and flying, Buckley is part-owner of Life Pharmacy Forbes and Flannery's Pharmacy NSW, and a pilot for the past 15 years.
"I always had a dream that I'd be flying and creating a point of difference in people's lives from the air, and delivering services, I just didn't know what that looked like...but I'm glad we could make it happen," Buckley commented.
He mentioned that although there were access issues to primary health in regional Australia, the problem could be solved with an aeroplane.
"I do consider myself quite lucky to be putting my passion for primary and preventative healthcare to use and getting out there and seeing the world from a couple of thousand feet - it's pretty special," he commented.
In a similar initiative in Jun last year, the LPG team delivered more than 600 critical vaccines to aged care residents in remote locations across NSW.
"We're going to centres which, quite often, may not have a GP or pharmacy in those towns, so our stores are offering outreach services to assist the vulnerable patients in those communities that otherwise don't have a health professional to assist with vaccinations," said Lisa Gibson, Owner and Pharmacist in Charge of Orana Mall Pharmacy Dubbo.
"In the aged care homes, some patients can be quite isolated so it's good having someone to have a chat to about their healthcare.
"And the pharmacists enjoy getting out and doing some work in the community as well, and just offering different services and engaging with different patients."
The LPG team has been visiting sites such as in Balranald, Bourke, Cobar, Condobolin, Gulgong, Kandos, Mudgee, Orange, Parkes, Rylstone, Wellington, and Yeoval, travelling by car and aircraft to reach these remote areas. JG
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