Pharmaceutical Services Branch
information bulletin
Pharmacist vaccination
This information is for those pharmacists
considering becoming trained to provide
vaccination services, pharmacies wishing
to offer vaccination services on their
premises, and pharmacy education
providers considering offering vaccination
training courses.
Background
Pharmacists administer vaccines in a
number of countries internationally. In 2013
the Pharmacy Board of Australia
determined that administration of vaccines
was within scope of practice for
pharmacists. In 2014 a large scale trial
program of pharmacist vaccination was run
in Queensland.
Legislation
The Poisons Regulations 1965 require that
a pharmacist only supply a Schedule 4
(S4) medicine to a patient when in
possession of a valid authorisation. This
means that pharmacists can supply a S4
vaccine to a patient when they have a legal
prescription.
Regulation 39AA now allows pharmacists
to supply vaccines when the vaccine is:

influenza vaccine

administered by the pharmacist

supplied according to a Code
published by the Department of
Health.
The Western Australian Poisons
Legislation has recently been amended to
allow pharmacists to administer vaccines.
The intent of the changes is to increase
access to immunisation services and
improve overall population coverage
against seasonal influenza.
This means a pharmacist may administer
influenza vaccine on their own authority,
without a prescription, when complying
with the Code. All other legal requirements
of the Poisons Regulations for storage and
supply of prescription medicines apply in
full.
The changes are limited to influenza
vaccine when administered to adults.
Supply of other vaccines and
administration to children are not part of
these changes. The changes do not affect
any other prescription medicines.
Vaccination Code
Pharmacists wishing to administer
vaccines must first complete an accredited
course of training.
The Code covers:
Pharmacies offering these services must
ensure they meet minimum requirements
for privacy, equipment, staffing and
ensuring patient safety.
The Pharmacist Vaccination Code outlines
criteria that pharmacists and pharmacies
must meet to comply with Regulation
39AA.

training needs

patient eligibility

premises

equipment

written procedures

vaccine storage

patient consent

adverse events

record keeping
Training
A pharmacist may only provide influenza
vaccinations under Regulation 39AA if they
have successfully completed an accredited
course of training.
Accredited courses are those that have
been assessed and approved as suitable
by the Western Australian Department of
Health. Pharmacists should check the
Department website to ensure a course
has been recognised.
Premises
Pharmacy premises where a pharmacist is
administering vaccines under Regulation
39AA must ensure that they meet all
criteria of the Code.
Pharmacies must have private areas of
sufficient size, areas for patient monitoring,
infection control and waste facilities, and
sufficient staffing during vaccination
periods.
Other equipment including refrigerated
storage, consumables, reference texts,
facilities for keeping clinical records, and
anaphylaxis response kits (including stocks
of adrenaline) must be present and
maintained.
Other concerns
Suitable screening procedures are required
to assess and identify those patients that
do not qualify for vaccination or where
vaccination may not be appropriate or safe.
These consumers should be referred to the
most appropriate health practitioner for
their needs. It is strongly recommended
that patients in high risk groups and eligible
under the National Immunisation Program
should be referred for vaccination under
this scheme.
Pharmacists must obtain consent from
each person vaccinated. Adverse events
must be managed and reported. Clinical
records of administration are must be kept
for two years. The patient’s usual general
practitioner (GP) should be informed.
Pharmacists should be mindful of their
scope of practice and refer any patient
where management is beyond their
competence. Pharmacists should also
consider professional indemnity needs.
Some pharmacy industry organisations
maintain standards and guidelines for safe
and professional provision of vaccination
services in pharmacies. Pharmacists
should familiarise themselves with these
standards. Pharmacists should also ensure
their familiarity and compliance with any
practitioner registration standards
applicable to vaccination services.
Approved courses
Education providers can apply for their
proposed course to be assessed for
potential accreditation.
Providers will need to detail systems in
place to ensure educational quality, such
as Registered Training Organisation
status. Submissions must also address
how course content meets competency
needs for pharmacist vaccination. Courses
must provide practical exposure to injecting
and competency assessment.
Interested providers should contact the
Pharmaceutical Services Branch for more
information on making a submission and
assessment criteria.
More information
More information is available from the
Pharmaceutical Services Branch on
9222 6883 (Monday to Friday 8.30am –
4.30pm) or via email to
poisons@health.wa.gov.au