From April 2020, pharmacists and pre-registrant pharmacists that meet specific criteria in the ACT, can provide influenza vaccinations to persons aged 10 years and over, and the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (dTpa) and measles-mums-rubellea (MMR) vaccinations to persons aged 16 years and over, without a prescription.

In 2020, participating pharmacies will again be able to provide National Immunisation Program (NIP) funded influenza vaccinations to persons aged 65 years and over, in conjunction with ACT Health, after the successful 2019 pilot program. Pharmacies may wish to charge a service fee for the administration of the NIP funded vaccine, as they are not paid by ACT Health or the Commonwealth for the service.

The Public Health (Community Pharmacy) Code of Practice 2016 (No 1) clause 4 stipulates compliance with the ACT Pharmacist Vaccination Standards.

The Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods (Vaccinations by Pharmacists) Direction 2020 (No1) includes the ACT Pharmacist Vaccination Standards.

The ACT Government Pharmacist Vaccinations webpage contains fact sheets, the ACT Vaccination Standards, an Immunisation Adverse Event Reporting Form and a Pharmacist Vaccination Influenza Record Form.

The Whooping Cough & Flu Vaccination A4 poster (which can also be printed in A3 size) or A1 Poster can be downloaded to let your customers know of this additional service.

You can also download and print Customer Care Cards and Customer Information Sheets on Influenza (PDF, 281.55 KB) and Pertussis.

NSW Guild Training delivers training to ACT pharmacists on behalf of the ACT Branch. NSW Guild Training has been providing nationally recognised training to pharmacists and pharmacy staff throughout Australia since 1995. For further information on training for the Pharmacist Administration of Influenza Vaccine, please visit the NSW Branch Training page.

The NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (clause 48A) has been amended to authorise appropriately trained pharmacists in NSW to administer privately funded influenza vaccine to individuals aged 10 years and over, and diphtheria-tetanus- pertussis (dTpa) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines to individuals aged 16 years and over. This reduces the previous minimum age for the influenza vaccine.

The NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards were updated on 14^th May 2020.

Authorised pharmacists are required to report all vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). More information about the AIR is available on the Department of Human Services website.

More information on pharmacist initiation and administration of vaccines is available from the NSW Health website.

Additional resources for NSW pharmacist vaccinators can be found on the NSW Branch Clinical Education webpage here.

NSW Guild Training provides an Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) approved training course, Pharmacy Guild Immunisation Course. This course is accredited for 34 Group 2 CPD credits and is a blended format of online pre-learning modules followed by a one day face-to-face practical training day.

The Scheduled Substance Treatment Protocol (SSTP) allows appropriately trained pharmacists to administer influenza, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccines to persons aged 16 years.

In May 2020, the NT Chief Health Officer enabled pharmacists to administer the influenza vaccination to children aged 10 years and over, after completing an additional unit of education. This change lowers the previous age minimum from 16 years old. The details of the change are set out in the Government Gazette No. S30.

The age limit of 16 years and over remains in place for pharmacists administering the MMR and DTP vaccines.

The Northern Territory Department of Health have updated the Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists at Pharmacies NT Protocol and the PS5 Standard for Pharmacy Based Immunisation Programs.

Pharmacists may also administer vaccinations outside of pharmacy premises, in line with the regulations set out in the Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists at places other than Pharmacies in the Northern Territory Protocol.

The NT Branch of the Pharmacy Guild provides accredited training for immunising pharmacists.  Please contact the NT Branch on 08 8944 6900 or office@ntguild.org.au for further information.

In February 2020, the Queensland government amended the Drug Therapy Protocol to lower the age that approved pharmacists may administer the influenza vaccine to 10 years old, and expand the range of vaccines that approved pharmacists may administer. An authorised pharmacist or trainee pharmacist under supervision, may administer the following range of vaccines to persons aged 16 years and over: measles- mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus-diphtheria- acellular pertussis (dTpa), dTpa in combination with inactivated poliovirus, poliomyelitis, cholera, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis A, meningococcal ACWY and pneumococcal vaccine.

The Drug Therapy Protocol – Pharmacist Vaccination Program is available from the QLD Health website.

Read further information on upcoming pharmacist vaccination courses in Queensland. Alternatively, please contact the QLD Guild Branch on (07) 3831 3788 or email education@qldguild.org.au.

In South Australia, pharmacists who have completed an approved training program can provide influenza vaccinations to persons aged 10 years and over, and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (dTpa), dTpa in combination with inactivated poliovirus and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations to persons aged 16 years and over without a prescription.

The SA Health Vaccine Administration Code was last updated in March 2020 to lower the previous minimum age for the influenza vaccine. More information about vaccination in pharmacies is available from SA Health Website.

The Pharmacy Guild, SA Branch's course Vaccination Services delivered by Pharmacists has been approved by the SA Department of Health and Ageing to train, mentor and coach pharmacists in the techniques required to conduct a vaccination service within a pharmacy.

In line with Tasmanian Poisons Regulation 2008 (S.R. 2008, No 162) pharmacists who have completed an approved training program can provide influenza vaccinations to persons aged 10 years and over, and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (dTpa) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations to persons aged 16 years in an approved setting.

Pharmacists wishing to administer influenza vaccines must take appropriate training to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to administer vaccines. Once a pharmacist has completed approved training, they are required to administer five vaccinations under the supervision of a nurse immuniser or GP in clinical conditions. Final approval is then provided by the Director of Public Health. The Community Pharmacy must also be approved by the Director of Public Health.

The Tasmanian Guild Branch delivers the CPD accredited Guild Pharmacist Vaccination Training – Pharmacist Administration of Influenza Vaccine that provides participants with the skills and knowledge to provide immunisations to people in a community pharmacy environment in Tasmania.

For further information, please contact the Tasmanian Guild Branch.

On 27 February 2020 the Secretary Approval for Pharmacist Immuniser was amended to allow an approved pharmacist to administer influenza vaccine to persons aged 10 years and over, and pertussis immunisations, measles-mums-rubella (MMR) and meningococcal ACWY to eligible people aged 15 years and over, effective from 1 April 2020. This lowers the previous age limits and expands the range of vaccines that may be administered by an approved pharmacist in Victoria to include meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Participating pharmacies in Victoria will again be able to provide a range of vaccines to eligible persons under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), as set out by Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

A Secretary Approval Pharmacist Immuniser defines the conditions that apply to pharmacists.  The conditions of the Secretary Approval and related requirements that pharmacists are required to comply with are described in the Victorian Pharmacist-Administered Vaccination Program Guidelines. These Guidelines describe the conditions of the Approval and expectations regarding pharmacists’ training, fees, premises, vaccines, protocols, target groups and exclusions.

As a condition of the Secretary Approval, pharmacies are required to provide evidence of completion of approved training, nominate a responsible pharmacist and register with the Department of Health & Human Services before they begin administering vaccinations.

Pharmacies providing a vaccination service must be accredited through an appropriate quality assurance program, such as the Quality Care Pharmacy Program.

For further information, please visit the Victoria State Government – Pharmacist Immunisers page or contact the Victorian Guild Branch.

The Western Australian Poisons Legislation was originally amended on 15 December 2014 to allow pharmacists to administer vaccines.

On 30^th January 2017 the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 and its subsidiary legislation, the Medicines and Poisons Regulations 2016 replaced the Poisons Act 1964 and Poisons Regulations 1965.

Effective from October 2020, the Structured Administration and Supply Arrangement (SASA) – Administration of vaccines by pharmacists and SASA- Influenza vaccination- authorise pharmacists trained in immunisation to administer vaccinations at a place or premises, including a community pharmacy registered in WA, that meets the requirements of an approved setting as outlined in the SASA. This includes the administration of the influenza vaccine to persons aged 10 years and over, and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (dTpa), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and meningococcal ACWY vaccines to persons aged 16 years and over. The SASA are available from the WA Department of Health website.

In 2020, participating pharmacies will again be able to provide National Immunisation Program (NIP) funded influenza vaccinations to persons aged 65 years and over as part of the influenza vaccination trial.

Immunisation courses for pharmacists must be approved by the CEO of the Department of Health Western Australia. The Pharmacy Guild's WA Branch training course, Pharmacist Administration of Influenza Vaccine, is an approved course.

Further information is available from the Pharmacist Immunisation Training page.