Victorian pharmacist immunisers get the go ahead to provide more vaccines

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia - Victoria Branch welcomes the decision by the Victorian Department of Health and the Andrews Labor Government authorising pharmacist immunisers to administer the monkeypox vaccine.

Under the changes, pharmacist immunisers are now authorised to also administer the following additional vaccines:

• human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to persons aged 12 years and older;
• pneumococcal vaccine to persons aged 50 years and older;
• herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine to persons aged 50 years and older; and
• monkeypox vaccine to patients recommended for vaccination aged five years and older.

Another part of these changes is the authorisation of pharmacist immunisers to administer the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine to persons aged 12 years and older (reduced from 15 years and older)

Victorian Branch President of the Pharmacy Guild, Anthony Tassone, congratulated the Government for this change. Welcoming the announcement, he said:

“This is great news for patients offering broader access to help protect themselves, their family and community. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has strongly advocated for highly skilled and trained pharmacist immunisers to be able to administer a broader range of vaccines to the community. This decision is welcomed as an important step in pharmacists delivering to the full scope of practice for the benefit of our health system.”

“We encourage patients to ask their pharmacist about what vaccines they can receive from their local pharmacy. The Guild looks  forward to continued engagement with the Andrews Government on ways that pharmacist immunisers can assist in improving access to more vaccinations for the community.”