MORE West Australians are opting for pharmacist-administered flu vaccinations, citing convenience as the major factor.
A research paper released by the Curtin University’s School of Pharmacy found shifting community sentiments surrounding vaccinations by pharmacists in place of general practitioners, finding them not only to be a safe option for the public, but also popular due to their accessibility.
Lead researcher Laetitia Hattingh said the evaluation showed no major adverse effects among the 15,621 influenza vaccinations administered by immuniser pharmacists at 76 WA community pharmacies between March and October 2015.
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READ NOWThe research identified a high number of people from regional areas accessed the service and found further training of pharmacists could lead to wider administration of vaccines by pharmacists.
The evaluation was conducted in collaboration with UWA and was supported by funding from the WA Department of Health.