Pharmacist immunisers in NSW can now administer vaccines under the NSW School Vaccination Program.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazard recently confirmed this change to allow trained pharmacist immunisers to supply and administer National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines to NSW children who are eligible for vaccination in the NSW School Vaccination Program.
“This is very welcome news for NSW pharmacist immunisers,” the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) NSW Branch President, Chelsea Felkai said.
“Pharmacists have proven themselves time and time again through the Covid-19 pandemic as one of our most accessible healthcare workforces.
“They are trained and experienced in vaccinating younger age groups.”
Ms Felkai said that this move will significantly improve vaccine access for young people across the state.
“We are delighted that pharmacists will now be able to contribute to increasing vaccine accessibility and immunisation rates across our school population,” Ms Felkai said.
As part of this change, pharmacist immunisers in NSW can now administer human papillomavirus (HPV) and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) vaccines to people 12 years and over, and the meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine to people over 14 years.
“It is essential that all NSW children have timely access to HPV, dTpa and MenACWY vaccines,” Ms Felkai said.
“Vaccination is the best way to ensure these susceptible populations and their families are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases – they will now have the convenient option of protecting themselves through local pharmacies.
“PSA has been advocating for this for some time, as highlighted in our most recent budget submission.
“We must continue to remove barriers to vaccination and ensure that pharmacists are properly remunerated for the vaccination services they provide,” she said.
