As recently reported by Retail Pharmacy magazine, earlier this week the TGA granted provisional approval for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Australia, a move that has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
PSA President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, says the TGA announcement is an historic step towards Australia’s national Covid-19 vaccination program.
Associate Professor Freeman adds that while this vaccine will be administered at designated Pfizer Hubs across Australia and will not be administered in community pharmacies, pharmacist vaccinators may form a vital part of the vaccination workforce at these public health vaccination clinics.
“Pharmacists stand ready to administer Covid-19 vaccines to the Australian community. [The] approval of the Pfizer vaccine represents a significant step in Australia’s flight against Covid-19,” he says.
Reportedly, community pharmacists are expected to administer other Covid-19 vaccines from Phase 2a when they become available.
“The government has indicated it will be approaching community pharmacies this week seeking to participate in this program, and PSA encourages pharmacists to take the opportunity to be at the frontline of this,” adds Associate Professor Freeman.
“Pharmacists are appropriately skilled and equipped to deliver these services as the roll out of Australia’s Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy continues, including providing significant workforce and infrastructure capacity once other vaccines, such as the AstraZeneca vaccine, becomes available.”
