The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch's Acting President, Chris Owen, has congratulated community pharmacies in Queensland for administering more than 52,000 COVID-19 vaccines. Over 700 Queensland community pharmacies are now administering vaccinations in metropolitan, regional and remote areas, helping to provide equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
A complete list of community pharmacies participating in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout can be found on findapharmacy.com.au/qldpharmacy.
Mr. Owen said the number of Queenslanders accessing their free COVID-19 vaccinations through their community pharmacy demonstrated the critical role pharmacies play as trusted primary healthcare providers.
"We've been blown away at the response from Queenslanders wanting to come in have access to COVID-19 vaccinations through their community pharmacy," said Mr. Owen.
"It's not just in the urban areas," said Mr Owen, "but also in more regional areas where we're seeing a great demand."
Mr. Owen drew particular attention to two pharmacies in Bowen that delivered over 2,500 vaccinations to a population of just over 10,000.
"LiveLife Pharmacy Bowen Healthcare and LiveLife Pharmacy Bowen Plaza deserve to be congratulated for their herculean efforts," said Mr. Owen, "it's hard to imagine anywhere else where two community pharmacies have delivered this large of a proportion of vaccines to their community."
"The message we're sending Queenslanders when it comes to vaccines is clear," said Mr Owen, "If you're over 18, get the vaccine."
"Regardless of your age, when you arrive at your community pharmacy, your pharmacist will undertake a health assessment and discuss the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine. Both the patient and vaccinator need be satisfied that the benefits outweigh the risks before any vaccination takes place," said Mr Owen.
"Anyone administering a COVID-19 vaccine in community pharmacies has undergone the Commonwealth's mandatory training with the Australian College of Nurses on this specific vaccine."
Mr. Owen said community pharmacies continued to receive doses of AstraZeneca and would begin offering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines later in September.
The community can visit findapharmacy.com.au/qldpharmacyto see a list of all Queensland community pharmacies that are administering the COVID-19 vaccination.
