Guild member Laura Homewood proudly shares her experience, hoping to inspire other pharmacists by showing that delivering vaccinations in offsite settings is achievable.
This year, TerryWhite Chemmart Ayr, together with the Townsville Public Health Unit, attended the Burdekin Show to connect with community members and promote public health through the provision of vaccinations.
How did you become involved in this outreach clinic?
We were approached by the local Public Health Unit to participate as they have also been present at other shows.
What challenges did you face delivering this outreach clinic? And how did you overcome them?
One challenge was temperature control. Early in the day, prior to arriving at the show, we couldn't get the temperature to stabilise, but we resolved this by adding additional insulation to the esky.
Another challenge was working out pricing for people seeking private vaccinations. We didn't think many people would be willing to pay for a private vaccination. Next time, we'll look into having a private vaccination price list available for easy reference. We brought our EFTPOS machine and one of our tills with us off-site, which made things easier.
Can you describe a moment during the clinic that really stood out to you?
It was lovely talking to community members. We provided quite a few intranasal FluMist vaccinations, and it was nice for parents to see how easy the process was. There were some very brave kids getting vaccinated, with plenty of cheering and encouragement. We also had a very hesitant girl who worked at the store next door. After being encouraged by her family members and coworkers, and seeing others receive their vaccinations, she found the confidence to get vaccinated herself.