The Australian College of Nursing is calling for swift regulatory and funding reform to enable more nurses and midwives to provide vaccination independently in more settings for more Australians to increase Australia's immunisation rates.
Acting ACN CEO, Dr Zach Byfield, said the latest National Immunisation Strategy has prioritised 'the delivery of vaccines in innovative ways'.
"Nurses are leaders in innovation and can deliver vaccinations in innovative ways," Dr Byfield said.
"Nurses lead and run vaccination in school-based immunisation settings across the nation. Further, the nursing profession stepped up and led the way exceptionally throughout the Covid pandemic.
"But childhood immunisation rates are now dropping below critical 95 per cent coverage targets, and there are gaps in protection for First Nations communities, older Australians, and those in regional areas.
"Nursing is the largest and most geographically dispersed health profession in Australia, with nurses on the front line of health care in communities across the nation.
"Nurses deliver more vaccinations in GP clinics than any other profession.
"But they struggle to set up their own vaccination clinics due to outdated regulatory barriers.
"Australia cannot afford to maintain absurd situations where qualified nurse immunisers cannot protect high-risk populations from vaccine-preventable diseases that kill.
"We need innovation like more nurse-led immunisation clinics nationally to make getting vaccines as easy as possible, including in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
"Another innovation would be mobile teams of nurse immunisers to visit residential aged care facilities, schools, and hospitals.
"Most people want protection from vaccine-preventable diseases, but there are often many barriers preventing them from being immunised – whether that's distance, time, mobility, or a lack of culturally appropriate options.
"We need to make sure there are as many options as possible that reduce those barriers to vaccination.
"And nurses can be mobilised to help educate people who are reluctant or hesitant to be vaccinated."
Dr Byfield said nurses are experts in the administration of vaccines, but they have been barred from setting up vaccination clinics because of requirements for medical oversight.
"The Strategy makes it clear that we need all qualified healthcare professionals working to their full scope to achieve vaccination targets," Dr Byfield said.
"Registered nurses are highly trained, regulated professionals with expertise in risk assessment, emergency response, and safe vaccine administration.
"The requirement for doctor oversight creates unnecessary barriers to care.
"Governments have unleashed community pharmacists to help lift immunisation rates. They must now unleash the unlimited potential of nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives.
"Nurses are the solution," Dr Byfield said.
