The decision by the Australian Government, advised by National Cabinet, to reverse funding cuts for pharmacists and GPs delivering booster shots is a welcome development which should help manage the current surge in COVID-19 numbers across the country.
National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Professor Trent Twomey, said the reversal of the nonsensical funding cuts would act as an incentive for more community pharmacies to join the booster rollout.
“We know the initial sum of $16 per booster shot delivered was simply not enough and in fact was costing many pharmacies money,” Professor Twomey said.
“This saw quite a large drop off in the numbers of community pharmacies that were able to participate in the program.”
Professor Twomey said the reversal of the funding cuts, taking the payment to $26 a shot, came at a very important time.
“It is clear that the way forward means having more points of presence for delivery of the booster shots,” he said.
“Mass vaccination hubs are not the answer.
“Reversing the funding cuts will incentivise more pharmacists to come on board. Increasing the number of pharmacist and GP vaccinators is the obvious way forward in helping to protect communities across Australia.
“This decision is an important step in the right direction and should see an increase in vaccinators.
“The Guild has been advocating strongly for some time to reverse the funding cuts to pharmacists so they are no longer forced to subsidise the program and put their businesses at risk.
“The decision today is a victory for common sense and a positive step in helping to protect more and more Australians from COVID-19.”
