Government reverses “nonsensical cuts” to COVID-19 vaccination remuneration.
Community pharmacies will receive $26 for each COVID-19 booster vaccine they administer under a revised remuneration scheme announced by the Federal Government this afternoon.
The new remuneration model provides both GPs and pharmacists with an additional $10 per booster administered, reversing what were seen as “nonsensical cuts” to the initial program.
While the boost in the fee being offered to entice pharmacies to participate in the program falls short of the “same job, same pay” model the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has been pursuing, the organisation’s National President, Professor Trent Twomey, said it would act as an incentive for more stores to join the rollout.
“We know the initial sum of $16 per booster shot delivered was simply not enough and in fact, was costing many pharmacies money,” he said.
“This saw quite a large drop off in the numbers of community pharmacies that were able to participate in the program.”
Twomey added that expanding the number of pharmacies and GP clinics offering booster doses was an important step for the Government’s program.
“It is clear that the way forward means having more points of presence for delivery of the booster shots,” he said.
“Mass vaccination hubs are not the answer.
“Reversing the funding cuts will incentivise more pharmacists to come on board. Increasing the number of pharmacists and GP vaccinators is the obvious way forward in helping to protect communities across Australia.
“This decision is an important step in the right direction and should see an increase in vaccinators.
“The Guild has been advocating strongly for some time to reverse the funding cuts to pharmacists so they are no longer forced to subsidise the program and put their businesses at risk.”
