NSW pharmacists will soon be able to give vaccines for more than just influenza shots thanks to new legislation due to come into effect from January next year. This will allow pharmacists to give vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa).
This legislation will bring NSW in line with Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory in terms of the types of vaccines available to patients through community pharmacies.
Another change is that pharmacists will also be able to vaccinate patients over 16. Pharmacists will have to undergo a small amount of further training before they can start administering the additional vaccines. President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW branch David Heffernan said patients would benefit being able to obtain vaccination services from trained local pharmacists.
“The inclusion of the whooping cough vaccine is especially beneficial for grandparents, carers of young children and partners of pregnant women, ahead of having contact with newborn infants.”
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia NSW State Manager Simone Diamandis told Australian Pharmacist that public attention typically focused on improving vaccination rates in infants and children under 12, yet the largest unvaccinated group of people recommended to be immunised are adults.
She said that allowing pharmacists to administer vaccinations could improve the situation.