More pharmacies recruited for Covid-19 vaccine rollout

Getting the Covid-19 vaccine in southeast Queensland has been made easier, with more than 100 pharmacies granted permission to administer vaccines.

Emily Ngo receives an AstraZeneca vaccine injection from George James at his pharmacy in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Getting the Covid-19 vaccine in southeast Queensland has been made easier, with more than 100 pharmacies granted permission to administer vaccines.

The state’s excess AstraZeneca supply has been redistributed across 113 pharmacies in a move expected to boost vaccination ­levels. The new sites join the 181 locations already operating in rural and regional areas across Queensland where there are gaps in the vaccine rollout.

Acting president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Queensland branch, Chris Owen, said the addition of new jab locations would be “a big shot in the arm” to the rollout. “The most important thing is that we have to have more access points with more available ­appointments,” Mr Owen said. “When there’s a surge in demand, if you don’t have enough access points, then they’re just gonna lead to a log jam.”

The number of pharmacies included in the Queensland rollout is expected to balloon to 800 by the end of this month.

“To be able to have that many more access points, all with vaccines available, all with vaccinators with vaccine rooms that were previously under-utilises. It can only be a good thing for the rollout,” Mr Owen said.

Emily Ngo, 21, made the decision on Friday to get the vaccinated at the Brisbane pharmacy next to her work in Fortitude Valley. She had previously tried to book in for the Pfizer vaccine but was told she would have to wait weeks.

“I’m here because I worry about my health,” she said. “I work at a bakery and every day I am face-to-face with so many different people. I was worried about Covid before, but now we are in lockdown and there are so many people who have it.

“I wanted the Pfizer vaccine because I was worried about the clotting; I’ve heard AstraZeneca has some problems. But my boss and many other people told me the risk was very low.”

Mr Owen said vaccine complacency had been a bigger problem than hesitancy but acknowledged the messaging around safety and efficacy had been muddled.

“I think it needs to be simplified: our message is if you’re over 18, get the vaccine,” he said.

By the end of the month, 4000 pharmacies across the country will have been added to the jab rollout.