Queenslanders could get vaccinated at a pharmacy under proposed changes to rollout

Residents of one Australian state will be able to get their Pfizer jabs from a pharmacist in a major change to the nation’s vaccine rollout.

Queenslanders will soon be able to get their Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through at their local pharmacy under flagged changes to storage rules.

The mRNA jab, the preferred vaccine for those under the age of 50, originally needed to be stored at below-freezing temperatures, but a recent change means they could be stored in a normal fridge with temperatures of -2 to -8C for up to five days.

This would be in addition to state-run hubs, as Queensland races to improve its vaccination rate following reports a quarter of available doses were sitting unused.

Some pharmacies in Queensland will soon be able to offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

The Therapeutic Goods Administration are also considering another change to vaccination storage, in line with recent advice given to European Union health authorities.

Under the EU changes, Pfizer jabs can be stored for up to a month in normal fridge conditions.

Speaking on the Gold Coast, federal health minister Greg Hunt confirmed that 56 Queensland community pharmacies would be the first in the country to rollout vaccines.

“For the Australian context, that would open up general practice and pharmacy options with Pfizer … That’s a very important development,” Mr Hunt said.

Queensland pharmacies will soon be able to offer Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said residents having access to vaccines at their local pharmacy would be instrumental in communities where there wasn’t a GP network.

The acting president of Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland, Chris Owen, thanked Mr Hunt and Queensland’s Health Minister for ensuring Queenslanders had access to the vaccine as quickly as possible.

“Ms D’Ath has been focused on ensuring that regional and remote communities in Queensland have access to the COVID-19 vaccination through community pharmacies. She understands that many Queenslanders don’t have easy access to other primary healthcare services or local GP clinics,” Mr Owen said.

“Community pharmacies are highly accessible with 97 per cent of consumers in capital cities and 65 per cent in regional areas living with 2.5km of a pharmacy.

“Pharmacies are also the most frequently visited primary healthcare destinations, and staff are well -placed for significant interactions with the public.”

A dozen new Pfizer hubs, located within hospital and health services, are expected to be open by the end of next week.