COMMUNITY PHARMACY WELCOMES FLU VACCINE REFORMS

Previously, community pharmacists could only provide the flu vaccine to patients the age of five and over.

This will free up GPs to deal with more complex health issues and make vaccines more accessible for patients across NSW.

Today’s announcement by the Minns Government recognises the potential of pharmacists to provide more critical health services.

“No parent should need to worry about access to healthcare for their child. This announcement means that a new cohort of children can visit their community pharmacy and receive a flu vaccine,” said NSW State President, Mario Barone.

“Community pharmacy is ready to take pressure of busy GPs and emergency departments by providing more vaccinations and treating a wider range of everyday health conditions.”

Pharmacists deliver approximately 40 per cent of flu vaccines nationally but have not been able to administer them to children under five until now.

Community pharmacies are the most frequently accessed and accessible health service in Australia, with over 443.6 million individual patients annually. This decision means that the flu vaccine will be much more accessible to young children across the state.

The Pharmacy Guild also supports the NSW Government’s reforms to scope of practice announced at the Guild’s annual Pharmacy Connect conference last September.

The Pharmacy Guild looks forward to a wide range of everyday health conditions soon being available for treatment in community pharmacies across NSW.

This reform builds on the success of our state’s UTI and oral contraceptive trials, which has seen over 27,000 treatments delivered since May of last year.

Since the success of these trials, the treatment of UTIs and oral contraceptives has now moved into permanent practice.

In addition, more than 1,700 patients have been treated for atopic dermatitis, impetigo, and shingles in the 6-month trial that began in August last year.

The hard work, clinical excellence, and professionalism of community pharmacists across the state has laid the foundation for this transformative reform.