Pharmac – Te Pātaka Whaioranga is seeking feedback on
a joint proposal with Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora,
to enable community pharmacies to give some of the funded
childhood vaccines.
“Pharmac has an important role
to help improve the health outcomes for New Zealanders, so
to work with Te Whatu Ora to increase childhood vaccination
rates across the motu is a great opportunity,” says
Pharmac’s Director, Pharmaceuticals Geraldine
MacGibbon.
The consultation released by Pharmac today
proposes to remove the ‘Xpharm’ restriction – which
currently prevents pharmacies from being able to give funded
vaccines – from the following funded childhood vaccines
from 1 March 2024:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
and polio vaccine - Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis,
polio, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type B
vaccine - Haemophilus influenzae type B
vaccine - Pneumococcal (PCV13) conjugate
vaccine - Rotavirus oral vaccine
- Varicella
vaccine [Chickenpox vaccine].
“We know
community pharmacies are a good way for people to access
funded vaccines that don’t have the Xpharm restriction,
like the COVID-19 and flu vaccines – these would not be
impacted as part of this proposal.”
Te Whatu Ora is
working with Pharmacy and General Practice leaders to
discuss the removal of the Xpharm restriction and how this
change will be implemented.
“Childhood immunisation
rates have declined in recent years and one of the biggest
barriers is access to vaccinators,” says Te Whatu Ora
Director of Prevention, Alana Ewe-Snow.
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“General
Practice already plays a critical role in the delivery of
childhood immunisations and will continue to do so; however,
we need to draw on the capability and capacity across the
wider health sector to help increase options for whānau to
access childhood immunisations in their
communities.”
“Because of the importance of the
continuity of care provided by General Practice, we will be
working closely with PHOs and Pharmacies to try and ensure
that people accessing Pharmacy for their childhood
immunisations are those who are unable to get to their
General Practice or do not have a GP. “
“Removal of
the Xpharm restriction on childhood immunisation is the
first step in the process. A training programme is currently
in development to support Pharmacist Vaccinators who wish to
upskill and offer childhood immunisations,” says
Alana.
To provide feedback on the proposed removal of
the Xpharm restriction email
vaccines@pharmac.govt.nz
by
5pm, Monday 29 January 2024. All feedback received will be
shared with Te Whatu Ora.
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