Pharmacists will be able to protect more Queenslanders against vaccine-preventable diseases, the Queensland Government announced today in a move welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
Pharmacists will be able to vaccinate more people following the Queensland Government's announcement to lower the minimum age of pharmacist-administered vaccinations to 16 years.
PSA Queensland Acting President Mr Chris Campbell congratulated the Government for allowing pharmacists to vaccinate more Queenslanders.
"Allowing trained pharmacists to administer vaccines will significantly increase the immunisation rates within the community and reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
"The administration of vaccines by pharmacists complements the excellent work done by GPs, nurses, Indigenous Health Workers and other immunisers. It increases the immunisation rate and has a positive effect on people's health in Queensland.
"As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has advocated for many years to allow pharmacists to deliver more vaccinations to a wider age range of patients and for provision of pharmacist access to NIP stock. We will continue to work closely with the Queensland Government to achieve this."
Pharmacists in Queensland have been instrumental in progressing pharmacist-administered vaccination services in Australia through the Queensland Pharmacists Immunisation Pilot (QPIP) in 2014.
Mr Campbell commended the Queensland Government for making use of pharmacists' expertise and training to better protect the community against vaccine-preventable diseases.
