COMMUNITY pharmacists in Tasmania are now able to administer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (COVAX) booster shots, after the State Government granted approval for the sector to join the program.
The move brings the State's legislation into line with the rest of the country, and has been welcomed by Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmanian Branch President, Helen O'Byrne.
"As soon as the Federal Minister for Health announced that COVAX booster shots would be made available through community pharmacies, we had patients asking for them", she said.
"Pharmacies across Tasmania have already provided over 30,000 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccinations.
"Now we have the go ahead at the state level, we will be able to support requests from people eligible to receive their booster as well.
"Regardless of where someone received their original COVID-19 vaccinations, whether that was through a state clinic, or from a general practitioner, they are able to receive their booster at any participating community pharmacy."
Tasmanian-based former Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President, Dr Shane Jackson, noted that an order he had placed for the Pfizer vaccine had been cancelled earlier this week, because his pharmacy had not been approved to administer the vaccination.
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