Flu Vaccination Programs Update

The 2024 flu vaccination season has started with a bang, with 198,830 vaccinations administered by Queensland pharmacies since 1 March. That is a 37% increase in the number administered by the same time in 2023.

Clearly, the 2024 Queensland Free Flu Program has removed a critical barrier of cost which has enabled an enormous number of Queenslanders to access a flu vaccination this year.

Participating pharmacies would have received their first payment from MedAdvisor on 19 April, for vaccinations claimed under the Free Flu Program.

As a reminder, to participate in administering vaccinations to National Immunisation Program (NIP) eligible patients and to claim the appropriate remuneration, your pharmacy must be registered as both:

1. a Vaccine Service Provider (VSP) with the Queensland Health Immunisation Program (QHIP) to order vaccines under the NIP,

   AND

2. an Approved Service Provider with the Pharmacy Programs Administrator to claim remuneration from the Commonwealth for NIP-eligible patients (as allowed under the National Immunisation Program Vaccination in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program Rules).

Commonwealth NIPVIP Program Funding

Where Commonwealth funding is available to remunerate the pharmacy for administering a flu vaccine, this must be used. That means, your pharmacy needs to be registered with QHIP and PPA as above.

You must not claim any remuneration from the Free Flu Program for any patients who are NIP-eligible and for which the pharmacy would be eligible to receive payment via the NIPVIP Program. That is:

• flu vaccines administered either in the approved pharmacy premises or (commencing 29 April) at an aged care or disability home for
  • all adults aged 65 years and older, and
  • specific populations aged 5 to <65 years who are at increased risk of complications from influenza – that is, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who have certain medical conditions, and pregnant women.

2024 Queensland Free Flu Program Funding

Where Commonwealth funding is NOT available to remunerate the pharmacy for administering a flu vaccine, state funding should be accessed. This applies in the following scenarios:

1. patients who are NOT eligible to receive a NIP-funded vaccine i.e. they would otherwise pay privately for a flu vaccine, and
2. patients who are eligible to receive a NIP-funded vaccine but the pharmacy cannot claim remuneration via the NIPVIP Program i.e. aged less than 5 years, or the vaccine was administered in a location not permitted under the NIPVIP Program Rules.

We acknowledge that the claiming process for flu vaccinations in 2024 is complex. Your Guild, together with Queensland Health, appreciates the care and attention given to ensuring that the correct funding source is used to remunerate the pharmacy in the wide variety of possible vaccination scenarios that may be encountered.

Updated Flu Program Funding Resources

In response to the announcement from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, that NIPVIP Program funding will be extended to include NIP vaccines administered in aged care and disability homes starting Monday 29 April, the member only Flu Program Funding Flowchart and Pharmacist Flu Immunisation Program Table resources have been updated.

All other member-only resources are available via login through myGuild .