New resources help pharmacists to deliver vaccinations
February 28, 2017
New immunisation training and resources to equip pharmacists to deliver successful immunisation services have been released by the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
In a major boost to Australia’s public health, more than 2,350 pharmacists in Australia have completed PSA’s comprehensive Immunisation Training Program since 2014, according to PSA’s latest education statistics. This has followed legislative changes in all States and Territories allowing pharmacists to deliver immunisation services.
PSA’s Immunisation Training Programs are tailored to meet each State and Territory requirements. They are nationally accredited and approved by respective State and Territory Health Departments.
The program includes online learning modules and practical face-to-face workshops to ensure pharmacists have the knowledge and skills to deliver vaccines and identify and treat possible side-effects.
PSA vaccination spokesperson Professor Lisa Nissen said: “PSA has been a leader in advocating for pharmacist-delivered immunisations following the success of a major trial in Queensland, which led to other jurisdictions across Australia adopting this important healthcare model delivered through community pharmacy.”
“Pharmacists play a vital role in promoting immunisation and reducing the impact of vaccine-preventable disease in the community, especially to vaccinate cohorts of the community who previously would not have been vaccinated.”
PSA believes tens of thousands of Australians have been immunised across the nation by pharmacists over the past two years. Building on this success, PSA has released new training options and resources, including:
Online immunisation update to provide pharmacists with a review of the 2016 influenza season and an update on influenza disease including management of anaphylaxis: Read more here>>
Immunisation practical refresher workshop allowing pharmacists to refresh their practical skills in the administration of subcutaneous and intramuscular vaccinations.
Transition guide to support pharmacists to understand and meet specific State and Territory requirements to vaccinate. This content will be particularly relevant for pharmacists who are relocating or working across different states and territories.
PSA Executive Director Practice Support and Education Jan Ridd said PSA’s extensive suite of immunisation training and practice support tools has enabled pharmacists to deliver high-quality immunisation services and provide a major public health boost for local communities.
“PSA is also working closely with Governments to expand immunisation services beyond flu vaccination,” Ms Ridd said.
Pharmacists can now vaccinate for influenza and whooping cough in Victoria – while pharmacists can also vaccinate for whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
For further information or to register for immunisation training, click here>>
Remember pharmacists are healthcare professionals
February 23, 2017
Pharmacy owners should continue paying their employee pharmacists above award rates, the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) said today.
PSA commented on the Fair Work Commission’s decision on penalty rates and other conditions in selected industries, including pharmacy, which cuts Sunday and public holiday penalty rates.
PSA National President Joe Demarte said: “PSA acknowledges the many community pharmacy owners around Australia who pay their pharmacists and staff well above award rates, even under the current difficult financial climate. We hope that this ruling by the Fair Work Commission will not impact this.”
“It must be remembered that community pharmacies are not like other retail settings. Pharmacists are health professionals and their contribution needs to be recognised and remunerated in a different way to that of other retail workers,” Mr Demarte said.
PSA’s annual member survey identified in both 2015 and 2016 that wages and remuneration are the key issues for pharmacists, with average rates of pay already below that of many other workers. This topic has been the headline for PSA’s annual roadshow with the organisation’s leaders currently working their way around Australia to consult with pharmacists on solutions to this workforce issue.
“This will hit pharmacists very hard. Those who work on weekends and public holidays routinely provide advice and care that keeps people from presenting unnecessarily to emergency departments, which generates significant savings to Government. This mostly goes unrecognised and PSA has strongly advocated for Government to recognise and appropriately support both the network that provides this access and the pharmacists who deliver the care,” Mr Demarte said.