WA Health has announced a two year statewide trial involving the administration of National Immunisation Program influenza vaccines in community pharmacies.
Under the trial, pharmacists in Western Australia will be able to vaccinate individuals aged 65 years and older with the higher immunogenicity influenza vaccine.
The project is being undertaken in partnership with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, with vaccine orders for the trial to be processed at no charge through Symbion, Sigma or API.
Pharmacies are permitted to charge a service fee, with Guild members advised to "note the success of this trial will inform future roles for community pharmacy in immunisation.
"Success will be based on the impact community pharmacy has in increasing the level of flu vaccination coverage in the 65 and over cohort," according to a WA Guild communication to members.
The Guild has urged members to register to ensure that every immunisation is entered onto the Australian Immunisation Register at humanservices.gov.au.
Pharmacies must also sign up to the WA Health Department conditions for NIP immunisation providers by CLICKING HERE, and the Guild is also urging pharmacy staff to raise the issue by identifying all customers 65 years of age and over and ensure they are offered the vaccination.
The move means Western Australia joins Victoria as the only jurisdictions which currently allow pharmacist administration of National Immunisation Program influenza vaccines.
For more information on the WA trial see health.wa.gov.au.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 08 May 18
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