WA Pharmacist Vaccination Scope

Pharmacists are authorised to administer vaccines as per the two Structured Administration Supply Arrangement (SASA) documents issued by the Chief Executive Officer of Health.

• SASA - Administration of vaccines by pharmacists (in effect from 1/1/2024)
• SASA - Pharmacist COVID-19 Vaccination

The Commonwealth government has launched the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program to commence from 1 January 2024. The NIPVIP program allows eligible patients to access government-funded National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines from participating community pharmacies with no out-of-pocket expenses.

Participation in the NIPVIP program is voluntary and pharmacies can choose whether or not to participate.

Pharmacies that choose to participate in the NIPVIP Program cannot charge patients any additional fees for the administration of NIP vaccines. A payment of $18.85 per vaccination is claimable via the PPA portal. Where a patient is not eligible (does not consent OR the patient is vaccinated off-site and doesn’t reside in an aged or disability care facility) for NIPVIP, the vaccination service (administration of the vaccine) may be offered at a patient’s cost. In this instance, patients will be charged an administration/consultation fee.

Pharmacies should advise patients of any fees prior to administration of vaccines and must not charge for the NIP vaccine itself. NIP vaccines must be administered in line with the Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists SASA and the WA Immunisation Schedule.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The NIPVIP program does not cover state-funded vaccines as per the WA Immunisation Schedule (identified with an asterisk). Pharmacists cannot charge eligible patients for the cost of state-funded vaccines but should charge patients an administration/consultation fee. The administration fee is not be claimable under the NIPVIP Program. Patients should be advised of any fees prior to administration of the vaccines.

The state funded vaccines include:

• Hepatitis B vaccine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people ≥20 years
• MMR vaccine for patients born after 1965
• Influenza vaccine for children ≥ 5 years to Year 6 at school
• Influenza vaccine for vulnerable cohorts 12 to <65 years
• Influenza vaccine for WA Health staff

Pharmacies that choose not to participate in the NIPVIP Program can administer NIP vaccines to eligible patients and charge the patient an administration/consultation fee. Pharmacies should advise patients of any fees prior to administration of vaccines and must not charge for the NIP vaccine itself. NIP eligible patients should be advised that free vaccination services may be available through other vaccination providers. NIP vaccines must be administered in line with the Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists SASA and the WA Immunisation Schedule.

Selective pharmacy participation is not permitted. A pharmacy cannot choose to claim payment under the NIPVIP Program for administration of some eligible NIP vaccines and charge the patient an administration/consultation fee for other eligible NIP vaccines.

Where a patient is not eligible for a government-funded NIP vaccine as per the WA Immunisation Schedule, pharmacies may administer privately purchased vaccines and charge the patient for the vaccine plus an administration/consultation fee. Vaccines must be administered in line with the Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists SASA and in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

The NIPVIP Program FAQs have been developed and are available on the PPA website to assist pharmacies wishing to  participate in the program.

Points of note for pharmacies wishing to participating in the NIPVIP Program:

• Pharmacies wishing to participate in the program must register for NIPVIP program via the Pharmacy Programs Administrator (PPA) in order to claim for vaccine services
• Pharmacists must be familiar with and adhere to all conditions of the Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists SASA
• Pharmacist Immunisers must ensure that they have completed relevant training modules prior to administration of each vaccine
• Government-funded NIP vaccines are ordered through a WA Department of Health Onelink account
• Under the NIPVIP Program:
  • Participating pharmacies cannot charge eligible patients any out-of-pocket fees
  • Participating pharmacies can claim a payment of $18.85 per vaccination via the PPA portal
  • Patients are required to provide written or verbal consent to a NIPVIP service. A NIPVIP Program Patient consent form is available on the PPA website.
  • Vaccines must be administered at the pharmacy or off-site ONLY for patients who are residents of an aged care or a disability facility.
  • Provide the service in accordance with PSA Standards and Guidelines, ATAGI guidelines, Australian Immunisation Handbook recommendations and State Legislation.
• Government-funded vaccines can only be administered to eligible patients aged 5 years and over at time points outlined in the WA Immunisation Schedule and according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook
• All vaccines administered must be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

Patients may be eligible for Influenza Vaccination under the:

• National Immunisation Program (NIP)
• State Program
• Privately
• Free Flu State Program in May and June 2024

NIP-funded influenza vaccines and the NIPVIP program:

The following Seasonal influenza vaccine patient cohorts (without an asterisk*) as listed in the WA immunisation Schedule are funded Nationally:

• 5 Years to < 65 Years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or patients with Medical Risk Conditions (MRC)
• Pregnancy
• ≥65 Years

These patients are eligible for a government-funded NIP vaccine and pharmacies registered for the NIPVIP program can claim an administration fee of $18.85 via the PPA portal.

When claiming vaccination under the NIPVIP program, as per the NIPVIP Program Rules, pharmacists are required to obtain additional patient consent which relates to collection, release and storage of patient’s personal information, and is additional to consent to receive the vaccine. These consent forms must be stored for a period of 7 years for audit purposes. Vaccinations administered under the NIPVIP program must be administered at the pharmacy premises or in an aged care or a disability facility.

MedAdvisor Vaccine Funding Type: select ‘NIPVIP claimable’ or ‘Antenatal NIPVIP claimable’ to auto-claim the administration fee via the PPA portal.

Where pharmacies have NOT registered for the NIPVIP program OR the patient doesn’t consent to the NIPVIP program, OR the vaccine is administered off-site but not in an aged care or a disability facility, eligible patients can still get a government-funded influenza vaccine but the pharmacy cannot claim the administration fee, the patient has to pay the administration fee themselves.

MedAdvisor Vaccine Funding Type: select ‘NIP or commonwealth’ and the patient has to pay the administration fee

State-funded influenza vaccines:

The Seasonal influenza vaccine patient cohorts denoted with an asterisk* as listed in the WA immunisation Schedule are State funded:

• ≥5 Years to Year 6* at school
• Vulnerable cohorts* 12 to <65 Years – NA to pharmacy
• WA Health Staff* - NA to pharmacy

The NIPVIP program does not include State-funded vaccines hence whilst those patients are eligible for a government-funded influenza vaccine, the patient will need to pay the administration fee as it is not claimable under NIPVIP.

MedAdvisor Vaccine Funding Type: select ‘State Program’ and the patient has to pay the administration fee

Private influenza vaccines:

Patient cohorts which don’t fit into the WA immunisation Schedule will need to pay for the influenza vaccine and for the administration of the vaccine themselves.

Private influenza vaccine stock must be used.

MedAdvisor Vaccine Funding Type: select ‘Private’ and the patient has to pay for the vaccine and the administration fee

Free Flu Program – May and June 2024:

The Free Flu Program will be offered by the WA Department of Health in the months of May and June 2024.
Under the Free Flu Program:

• All West Australians who are not otherwise eligible through the NIP (refer to NIP-funded eligibility above) will be eligible for a free influenza vaccine.
• Administration fee will be claimable under the Free Flu program.
• Free Flu Program influenza vaccine stock must be used (pharmacists will not be reimbursed for privately purchased stock).
• Pharmacies are required to register for the Free Flu Program 2024 by 3rd May 2024. Registration and claiming details will be emailed to pharmacies by the Department.

MedAdvisor Vaccine Funding Type: select ‘State Program’ and claim administration fee through the Free Flu Program

Storage of Vaccine stock:

It is crucial for pharmacists to separate and clearly label government-funded vaccine stock and private vaccine stock in their vaccine fridges to ensure the correct vaccine is selected for the correct patient type.

A Vaccination charging and claiming guide has been developed to assist members.

A Vaccination eligibility guide has also been created to assist members in determining patient eligibility. Download it HERE.

The National Immunisation Program (NIP) is an established collaborative program involving the Australian Government along with State and Territory Governments.

NIP funded vaccines will continue to be provided through WA community pharmacies.

Pharmacies wishing to order government-funded vaccine stock are required to have a Onelink Vaccine Ordering account.

Stock transfers of government-funded vaccines are NOT encouraged by the WA Department of Health.

This includes pharmacy-to-pharmacy, pharmacy-to-GP and any other stock movements.

Please direct any queries to vaccineorders@health.wa.gov.au

It is mandatory for all vaccinations to be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Pharmacist immunisers should access the AIR to view the patient's immunisation history prior to administration of any vaccines to ensure appropriateness of vaccination.

Further information on how to register for the AIR and how to record vaccines on the AIR is available on our website.

Vaccines must be stored and managed in cold-chain as per the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines Strive for 5 and WA Health cold chain management requirements.

A cold chain breach occurs when the vaccine is exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range or exposure to light after it has been removed from the packet and the glass vaccine fridge door allows light to penetrate.

In such instances a cold chain breach protocol must be followed and reported.

Please note that COVID-19 Vaccine breaches and wastage are reported to the Vaccines Operations Centre (VOC).

Any unwanted or unexpected events following vaccine administration, AEFIs, must be reported to the WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance (WAVSS) via SAFEVAC.

Pharmacist immunisers are required to maintain currency of their CPR Certificate, First Aid Certificate and ASCIA Anaphylaxis Certificate.

As per the 1 January 2024 Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists SASA pharmacists are required to complete an annual update to meet competencies as listed in the SASA.

The annual update can be accessed via the WA Health immunisation education website.

In addition, an online Influenza Training Module must be completed annually.

Further information on training requirement is available on our Annual Updates for Pharmacist Immunisers webpage.