2023-09-29 04:00:30
Senior representatives and patient advocates emphasize benefits for the population, vaccination doctor confirms quality of pharmacist vaccination training
Vienna (OTS) – 2,000 pharmacists have already completed the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists’ vaccination training. They are available in 1,000 pharmacies nationwide to offer people an influenza or COVID-19 booster vaccination close to home, safely and easily. The broad support for the renewed push by pharmacists impressively shows that it is high time for politicians to create the legal basis for vaccinations by pharmacists and at the same time integrate this vaccination offer into the state flu vaccination program.
Ingrid Korosec, President of the Austrian Senior Citizens’ Association, sums up the great potential of vaccinations in pharmacies: “Nearby and easily accessible vaccination offers are essential, especially for older people. The possibility of receiving vaccinations in pharmacies in the future will increase the vaccination rate in the population, which is particularly essential for protecting vulnerable groups. In addition, it enables infectious diseases to be combated more efficiently, which noticeably reduces the burden on the entire healthcare system. A win-win that I welcome!”
Peter Kostelka, President of the Austrian Pensioners Association, is just as convinced: “Pharmacies are already a central health contact point for the older generation. An additional vaccination offer is just the next logical step. By making it easier for older people to have access to vaccinations through offerings in pharmacies, we increase vaccination rates, thereby protecting health and reducing unnecessary hospital stays. In my opinion, vaccinations by pharmacists are a great step forward for the benefit of the older generation and for relieving the burden on our health system.”
For Gerald Bachinger, patient advocate for Lower Austria, a vaccination offer from pharmacists is a central and long overdue step to increase vaccination rates in Austria: “The opportunity to receive vaccinations in pharmacies offers patients an invaluable advantage: namely the flexibility and convenience to protect your health easily, safely and proactively. International examples show that well-trained pharmacists with additional offerings make a significant contribution to increasing vaccination rates in the population. Therefore, the more vaccination offers there are, the better.”
The doctor and vaccination expert Dr. Hedwig Roggendorf. She considers the Austrian Medical Association’s criticism of the professional suitability of pharmacists for vaccination to be wrong and unfounded: “The Austrian Medical Association’s vaccination training corresponds to international best practice examples and does not need to shy away from comparison. The pharmacists receive extensive training from experienced doctors regarding advice, vaccination information, vaccination techniques and how to deal with undesirable vaccination reactions and emergencies. From a technical perspective, there is absolutely nothing that speaks once morest vaccinations such as the influenza vaccination or the TBE vaccination being carried out by pharmacists. In many other countries, pharmacists are helping to significantly improve influenza vaccination rates. A low-threshold vaccination offer is essential and desired by the population. People are also having good experiences with it in Germany. From a health policy perspective, it is desirable to use this resource to immunize as many people as possible once morest influenza.”
Susanne Ergott-Badawi, member of the Board of Pharmacists, explains in more detail: “The academic vaccination training covers all essential aspects, from assessing the suitability of the person wanting to be vaccinated, to advice and administration of the injection, right through to followingcare. It consists of a theoretical and a practical part, each of which ends with an exam. In the theoretical part, several modules cover immunology, vaccines, suitability for vaccination, selected vaccine-preventable infectious diseases and the corresponding vaccinations. At the end of each module there is a knowledge test. The nine-hour practical part focuses on injection technique and specific first aid. The former is taught and checked by experienced vaccinators. The specific first aid measures are taught by an Austrian rescue organization. The colleagues trained for vaccination know how to deal with vaccination reactions.”
A look at Ireland shows that vaccinations in pharmacies significantly increase vaccination rates. Since pharmacists began administering influenza vaccinations around 10 years ago, the vaccination rate has increased by almost 60 percent. Gerhard Kobinger, Vice President of the Chamber of Pharmacists, therefore calls for pharmacies to be included in state vaccination programs: “The inclusion of vaccinations in pharmacies in the state flu vaccination program is a crucial measure to strengthen public health, as it increases accessibility, accessibility and convenience for the population Population increased. By providing vaccinations, pharmacists reduce barriers and increase vaccination rates, ultimately helping to prevent disease outbreaks, save lives and protect the health of our community. The performance of the pharmacists during the pandemic has impressively demonstrated our reliability in dealing with difficult periods in the healthcare system. It is precisely this support that is needed to noticeably increase our shockingly low vaccination rates, especially for influenza. In many places, both in neighboring and more distant countries, vaccination in pharmacies has been established or is currently being implemented. The results paint a consistently positive picture, so this would also be a logical step in the vaccination strategy for Austria.”
Questions & Contact:
Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists
Communication
Tel: 01 / 404 14 – 600
E-Mail: presse@apothekerkammer.at
1695960196
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