Community pharmacies in selected rural and regional areas are to be activated to support Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout out.
Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said that in the coming weeks community pharmacies in rural and regional Queensland would be the first to be brought on board.
Mr Hunt said States and Territories could choose to incorporate community pharmacies into their roll-out plans in rural and remote areas where there were no, or few, other points of contact with health services.
“[The national] Department of Health is working with the Queensland State Health Department to ensure we have broad coverage of primary care sites across the State who are delivering the COVID-19 vaccine,” Mr Hunt said.
“Up to fifty-six locations have been identified by the Queensland Government where community pharmacies could be activated to vaccinate Australians,” he said.
“These locations have community pharmacies that have undertaken a robust Expression of Interest assessment process.”
Mr Hunt said that as additional vaccine supply was delivered, additional community pharmacies would be brought on line to support an enhanced primary care roll out and ensure the broadest possible coverage for communities.
He said community pharmacies would play an important role in the ramp up of COVID-19 vaccination rates in the second half of the year.
He also said discussions were ongoing with States and Territories for additional engagement of general practices and community pharmacies.
