Confusion over Kevin Hogan’s list of pharmacies offering Covid vaccines on the Northern Rivers

Page MP Kevin Hogan announced nine pharmacies would be delivering the vaccine, but only some of them have actually received the doses.

Some North Coast pharmacies are about to start offering the Astra Zeneca vaccine. Picture: Ryan Young

There was confusion among pharmacists and residents after Page MP Kevin Hogan announced nine pharmacies were “delivering the vaccine”, although some of them have not even received the doses yet.

Mr Hogan encouraged the community to get vaccinated, with more pharmacies signing up to administer the vaccine.

He sent out a list of nine pharmacies in Lismore, Casino and Ballina that have signed up to deliver the Covid-19 vaccines, and although that is correct, some are not expected to receive the doses until late August.

The list in detail:

At Lismore Central Chempro, they were ready to start vaccinating booked customers with Astra Zeneca vaccines from 8am Monday, August 16.

At Lismore Square Priceline Pharmacy, the owner pharmacist confirmed they had not received the doses ordered yet and that they were expected to arrive later this month.

Lismore Woodlark Chempro Chemist confirmed the team will have doses of Astra Zeneca available for booked customers from Monday.

At Southside Pharmacy Lismore, pharmacist Kyle Wood confirmed they have been offering Covid vaccinations since Thursday, August 12.

“We were expecting the doses later in the month but we were surprised to receive them at 4pm on Wednesday, so we able to start vaccinating the next day,” he said.

“We have had great feedback from customers, and many people vaccinated have been aged under 40 years of age, after we have had a good discussion with them about the risks and effectiveness of the vaccine, and it is part of out duty of care,” he said.

In Lennox Head, the local Chempro Pharmacy confirmed they had not received their vaccines yet.

East Ballina Pharmacy confirmed they were getting ready to start vaccinating from Monday.

TerryWhite Chemmart confirmed on Thursday their Ballina outlet will start vaccinating next week.

It was a very different case in Casino, where two pharmacies named by Mr Hogan had not received their vaccines yet.

Scrivener & Webb Chemist Casino confirmed they have not received any doses yet, and they were expecting them for later in the month.

It was the same for John Black, owner pharmacist at McDonalds Pharmacy Casino.

Anecdotal reports of pharmacies in the Byron Shire receiving vaccines on Friday could not be confirmed.

Mr Black also represents the North Coast in the NSW Committee, Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

He estimated around 100 pharmacies have signed up for the vaccine delivery program between Tweed and Port Macquarie.

Two pharmacies in Coraki and Kyogle started offering Astra Zeneca Covid vaccines in late July as part of a pilot rollout for small rural communities with only one pharmacy.

For more information and to check eligibility for the vaccine, please visit the HealthDirect website: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility