Leeton and MIA pharmacists still keen to help in COVID-19 vaccine rollout

As general practices in the region begin to administer the Pfizer vaccine, pharmacies have reiterated calls that they can help bring the vaccine rollout to the next level.

Soul Pattinson Chemist's Robin Salvestro said his business is keen and prepared to help - they just need permission.

"We're ready to go it's just actually getting the vaccine which is the issue," he said.

Mr Salvestro said pharmacies being involved in the rollout would help speed up the process and potentially help convince hesitant residents to get the jab.

"It's like the flu vaccine - once we took part in that it brought the number of flu cases down completely in the area," he said.

"I think it will be the same with COVID. It will be more accessible to people to just walk up the street and have it done."

These thoughts were echoed by Leeton pharmacist Tejaskumar Patel, the owner of both Amcal and Leeton Discount Chemist.

Mr Patel said while there has been no recent communication from the government, he was confident pharmacies would be ready to assist as soon as they were called upon.

"We are ready we are just waiting for the go ahead from the government," he said.

"The general population is constantly in touch with pharmacists and I am confident that us getting involved would result in a better outcome and the number of vaccinated people going up."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Currently only 65 of Australia's 5800 pharmacies have received permission to administer the COVID-19 vaccine and a further 300 are set to be activated by the end of July.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) national president Associate Professor Chris Freeman said this is still "incredibly limited" and called on the process to be sped up.

"Pharmacists are the most obvious solution to increasing accessibility to vaccinations," he said.

"We already have a skilled, trusted, experienced, and easily accessible vaccinator workforce at governments' disposal.

"And we already have established vaccination clinics in our shopping centres - the community pharmacy."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: