bob buckham chief pharmacist advisor...pharmacy practice (cf nzma, nzno). – 75% community pharmacy...

The Professional Voice of Pharmacy

Bob BuckhamChief Pharmacist Advisor

2nd New Zealand Influenza Symposium 11 November 2015

• Professional association representing ~ 3500 pharmacists, from all sectors of pharmacy practice (cf NZMA, NZNO). – 75% community pharmacy practice, 13% hospital pharmacy practice (Pharmacy Council)

• Provide professional support and representation, CPD training, and assistance to enable pharmacists to deliver to all New Zealanders the best pharmaceutical practice and professional services in relation to medicines.

• The Society focuses on the important role pharmacists have in medicines management and in the safe and quality use of medicines.



• Vaccines can be administered without a prescription or standing order by:

– a person who is authorised by either the Director-General of Health or a medical officer of health under Regulation 44A of the Medicines Regulations 1984 (‘authorised vaccinator’).

• Pharmacists can administer influenza vaccine due to a reclassification of the vaccine by the Medicines Classification Committee in 2012.

• It is the vaccine’s medicine classification that gives a pharmacist (who meets the conditions of the classification) the authority to administer the vaccine.

• Pharmacist vaccinators must successfully complete a vaccinator training course approved by the Ministry of Health and comply with the immunisation standards of the Ministry of Health.


Influenza Vaccine:

Prescription Medicine except when administered to a person 18 years of age or over by a registered pharmacist who has successfully completed a vaccinator training course approved by the Ministry of Health and who is complying with the immunisation standards of the Ministry of Health

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/ReclassificationOfVaccines.asp


http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/ReclassificationOfVaccines.asp

The practice of pharmacy may include, but is not limited to:

– the custody, preparation and dispensing of medicines and pharmaceutical products;

– the selection and provision of non-prescription medicine therapies and therapeutic aids;

– health promotion, including health screening;

– administration of medicines, including injectable medicines;

– researching and evaluating information and providing evidence-based advice and recommendations on medicines and medicine-related health issues;

– teaching and advising;

– policy development;

– management;

– manufacturing; and

– auditing.



• Training & Accreditation of pharmacist vaccinators = as per Immunisation Stds– As with everyone else

– First Aid Certificate (NZRC Rescuer Level 4)

• Cold chain accreditation– As with everyone else

– Pharmacists very familiar – refrigerated medicines

• Patients present mostly through walk-ins, without appointment.

• Pharmacist vaccinations non-subsidised (exception: 2015 Waikato Influenza Prog)– MUST inform any patients eligible for funded flu vaccine (many choose pharmacy regardless)

• Accessibility advantages

• Notification of patient’s general practice with consent – strongly encouraged

• Role for all pharmacists in immunisation promotion, and for being a reliable source of information for patients



~ 580 accredited pharmacist vaccinators registered with PDA

(22% of community pharmacists)

~ 785 pharmacists trained by IMAC

• 21 000 doses sent to pharmacies in 2015 season (Healthcare Logistics)– Includes 1 320 doses sent to 24 pharmacies in the Waikato pilot

– 1970 doses sent directly to 33 pharmacies

• Compared with 15 600 doses sent to pharmacies in 2014 season– 600 doses sent directly to 23 pharmacies

– 15 000 distributed via wholesalers

• We know (unfunded) Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine was popular, but ? numbers (~12 000 pp Green Cross?)


Reclassified in response to major pandemic planning of 2009

Medicine classification:

• Restricted (Pharmacist-Only) Medicine in solid dosage forms for oral use containing 75 milligrams in a pack size of up to 10 dosage units for the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza in adults and children aged 13 years and older who have been exposed to the influenza virus


• Portal to enable pharmacist vaccinators to record immunisation events in NIR– Ministry targeting being ready for 2016 flu programme

• PSNZ developing a register of all pharmacist vaccinators

• MCC considering lowering age for pharmacist flu vax to 13 years of age.– PSNZ submitted in support following strong demand for lowering by teens

– Families presenting to pharmacy for flu vaccine – teenagers have to be turned away frustrated

– Missed opportunity to capture whole family unit at same time

– Teenagers less likely to arrange appointment times out of school

– Teenage workforce wanting immunisation – incl. pharmacy staff

– International students without a GP

– Age of consent guidance as per Immunisation Handbook


• Pharmacist vaccinator workforce is building

• Highly accessible– Accessing patients who have said they would not otherwise have been immunised

• Number of influenza vaccinations being given by pharmacist vaccinators increasing

• Pharmacists and pharmacies increasingly seen as a reliable source of information on immunisations – key health promotion role for profession (not just vaccinators)

• Recording events on NIR will aid an integrated expansion of pharmacy immunisation services



[email protected]

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bob buckham chief pharmacist advisor...pharmacy practice (cf nzma, nzno). – 75% community pharmacy...

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