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Questions over expansion of Tasmania’s flu vaccine program
Allowing pharmacists to administer vaccinations to children as young as 10 risks patient safety, according to the RACGP.
‘This appears to be another attempt by the pharmacy sector to put financial gains over quality patient care and safety,’ Dr Nespolon said of push for pharmacists to administer vaccines to children.
‘It’s quite simple; pharmacists don’t have the medical training required to safely deliver vaccinations and respond to associated risks, such as anaphylaxes,’ RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said.
‘This appears to be another attempt by the pharmacy sector to put financial gains over quality patient care and safety.’
The decision allowing children aged 10 and older to receive a flu vaccination from a pharmacist comes as part of the Tasmanian Government’s long-awaited Winter Demand Management Plan.
‘Previously, pharmacists could only deliver flu shots to Tasmanians aged 18 and over,’ Tasmanian Minister for Health Michael Ferguson said.
Dr Nespolon has called the move ‘baffling’, saying there is no evidence for such a decision.
‘Although this has been a particularly bad flu season, we are unaware of any access issues for this particular patient group in Tasmania, and there is no reason for these patients to visit a pharmacy for this healthcare service,’ Dr Nespolon said.
‘All patients, no matter their age, should receive their flu vaccination from their usual GP.
‘Administering a flu vaccination is an invaluable opportunity for a patient to have their overall health assessed. Only GPs can provide this comprehensive and holistic care.’
The first half of 2019 has seen a surge in influenza cases throughout the country. Overall, there have been more than 43,500 lab-confirmed notifications of influenza nationwide – compared with 58,848 for all of 2018.
Dr Nespolon said offering ad-hoc health services without any connection to a patient’s general practice – such as extending pharmacists’ administration of vaccinations to young children – serves to fragment care.
‘The Tasmanian Government should be further supporting patients to see their GP, rather than fragmenting their healthcare,’ he said.
‘I call on the Tasmanian Government to reconsider its decision, before any patient suffers the potential negative effects of this decision.’
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