Australians could receive the COVID-19 vaccine three to six months earlier if community pharmacies assist in the rollout, according to Pharmacy Guild of Australia President Trent Twomey.
“We can accelerate the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy to the point where any Australian over the age of 16 who is eligible for a vaccine, wants a vaccine can receive both of their shots three to six months earlier,” he said.
More than 50 pharmacies in rural Queensland will begin administering the vaccine from today but so far only the Palaszczuk government is allowing pharmacists to administer the jab.
Mr Twomey told Sky News other states and territories have not yet opted to involve pharmacists in the rollout because they are “receiving poor advice from their risk averse, state-based bureaucracies”.
“There is no level of risk here that is elevated compared to general practice or compared to Queensland Health.
“Community pharmacies have been assessed by the same expression of interest process that the Commonwealth government assess general practice by.
“The pharmacists have done the same level of training, the exact same module that is run by the Australian College of Nursing”.