JCU Pharmacy helping create herd immunity

In 2013, James Cook University (JCU) in collaboration with Queensland University of Technology, the Pharmacy Guild and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, undertook the Queensland Pharmacist Immunisation Pilot (QPIP). The Pilot aimed to trial community pharmacists providing immunisations.

JCU Pharmacy Professor Beverley Glass said more than 10,800 vaccinations were delivered in the pilot. “Of the vaccinations given during the pilot, 15% of patients had never received an influenza vaccination before, and a third of patients had previously received an influenza vaccination but did not get it every year, with some not having been vaccinated in over five years.”

As a part of the QPIP, JCU was a site for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to provide  courses to registered pharmacists so they could be trained in administering vaccinations to the community.

JCU Pharmacy Alumnus Mr Shane MacDonald, was one of the pharmacists who participated in this vaccination training during the QPIP.  As a community Pharmacy Manager, Shane said that he believes pharmacists are an untapped resource in the health services sector. “I thought by completing the course it would allow the local community greater access to vaccinations and therefore increase overall immunisation rates in the community and better health outcomes.”

The trial highlighted the importance of making immunisation services more accessible to help increase the vaccination rates of people, particularly in rural and remote communities. “Pharmacies are a very accessible health destination and often the first line for the community to approach, so to be able to provide this service is important,” said Mr MacDonald. The QPIP showed that there was an increase in people who decided to get the annual influenza vaccine compared to previous years.

Mr MacDonald said higher rates of vaccination is a definite positive as it increases herd immunity. “This protects our most vulnerable members of the community who can’t be vaccinated due to health conditions and/or allergy.”

As a result of the QPIP, Queensland registered pharmacists are now able to give three different vaccines to anyone over the age of 18, all of which are used to help prevent multiple diseases. The first is the annual influenza vaccine. The second is a vaccine that contains measles, mumps and rubella. The third is a vaccine containing diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.

JCU was chosen to be an academic partner in the QPIP due to the role they play in rural pharmacy education in Queensland. “JCU’s expertise was seen as being valuable for the recruitment and support of pharmacies in North Queensland and we made a significant contribution to research and design of the pilot, with a focus on rural and regional access.” said Professor Glass.

JCU continues to support immunisation training to registered pharmacists offered by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

Mr MacDonald said the course gave him invaluable skills. “From preparation, administration to evaluation, managing people who are not fans of needles and increasing my skill set in regards to adverse reactions and allergy are some of the many skills I developed from the course.”

To find out more about JCU’s pharmacy immunisation courses, contact Professor Beverley Glass beverley.glass@jcu.edu.au