PHARMACISTS in NSW will be allowed to administer influenza vaccines to patients aged 10 years and older from the middle of this month, as the State braces for the annual flu season and the threat of the novel coronavirus.
NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, announced the decision to drop age restrictions on pharmacist administered flu vaccinations from 16 years to 10, yesterday.
The decision puts NSW in line with Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, and Queensland - where the age limit was lowered last week (PD 25 Feb).
"Last year was the longest flu season on record and in 2017 more than 650 people in NSW died from flu-related conditions, and now we have COVID-19," he said.
"While the flu vaccine won't combat COVID-19, it will help reduce the severity and spread of flu, which can lower a person's immunity and make them susceptible to other illnesses.
"By allowing pharmacists to administer privately purchased flu vaccines to people aged 10 years and over, families now have more choice when booking-in for a flu jab".
Both the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), have welcomed the move, with PSA NSW Branch President, Peter Carroll, noting the decision could boost immunisation rates.
"Allowing pharmacists to vaccinate makes it more convenient for families, providing greater access to the influenza vaccine and improving rates of immunisation," he said.
"Already, this year there has been 4,725 confirmed cases of influenza in NSW and with the likely convergence of a COVID-19 pandemic with winter influenza, this move will help to bolster immunity in NSW.
"Boosting vaccination rates and preventing influenza outbreaks can ease pressure on our GP surgeries and hospital emergency departments."
Guild NSW Branch President, David Heffernan, thanked the State Government for extending pharmacist vaccination services, but stresses pharmacists were ready and able to do more.
"We also continue to urge the inclusion of community pharmacies in the distribution of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines for at-risk patients," he said.
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