Pharmacists Now Authorized to Deliver MMR Vaccinations

Beginning on October 22, 2018, pharmacists will be able to administer the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine to people over 16 years of age, reported the Victorian Government in Australia. 

The expanded Victorian Pharmacist-Administered Vaccination Program will enable adults across Victoria to receive the MMR vaccine, as well as annual influenza and pertussis-containing vaccinations from their pharmacist. 

“Victoria is the only state in Australia where pharmacist immunizers can administer government-funded vaccines,” said the Victoria government in a statement. 

This expanded authorization follows an external evaluation of the existing pharmacist-administered vaccination program which was completed in September 2017. 

This evaluation found pharmacist-administered vaccinations were safe and effective in improving access in Victoria. 

Pharmacists have delivered vaccinations in Australia since 2014, and across all states and territories since 2016.

But, there are a few authorization limits, such as:

• vaccination for travel purposes;
• people aged 15 years and under;
• inpatients in hospitals, and/or
• people with contraindications defined in the current edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook. 

Additionally, pharmacists in Victoria are required to report all vaccines administered to the Australian Immunisation Register, and to the patient’s healthcare provider. 

Lastly, the government’s communique outlines pharmacists must inform patients that the fee you’re charging is for the administration of the vaccine, not the cost of the vaccine. 

‘If the individual is not eligible for government-funded vaccines, a private market vaccine may be administered.’ 

Dr. Shane Jackson, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia said in a press release, “We applaud the Health Council’s initiative to build on the success of pharmacist vaccinations."   

“Research has shown internationally and locally that pharmacists are considered highly accessible and they can boost vaccination rates, contributing to a reduced burden on our already over-burdened healthcare system.” 

“Regulation of pharmacist immunizers varies from state to state. It doesn’t make sense that pharmacists can only vaccinate for meningococcal disease in Tasmania and pertussis in some states such as South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland,” said Dr. Jackson. 

Independent research commissioned by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has revealed almost two-in-three Australians believe pharmacists should be able to administer a broader range of vaccinations. 

In the USA, pharmacists’ scope of practice in immunizing patients has expanded significantly over the past few decades. Although laws and restrictions vary, pharmacists are now authorized to administer vaccines in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 

‘This shift has largely been an advantage for patients, who often pay less to be vaccinated at a pharmacy than in a physician’s office,’ according to John Beckner, RPh, the senior director at the National Community Pharmacists Association.   

Furthermore, patients have found pharmacy-based immunization services to be more convenient and accessible than those offered at other health care settings, said Beckner to Pharmacy Times.