The NSW government have announced the Covid-19 pharmacy vaccination pilot program which includes 22 pharmacies across regional and rural NSW with more to be added.
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There are no local pharmacies on the list but The South Coast Register can confirm some in Bomaderry and Nowra have received pre-approval.
It is not yet known when pharmacies with pre-approval will receive their first shipments of jabs.
East Nowra's Atli's Country Pharmacy owner Nuri Atli said his pharmacy had received pre-approval.
"The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has advised us that we must now wait for the Department of Health to include more pharmacies in the rollout," he said.
"On behalf of all pharmacies, we are excited that some rural pharmacies have been given approval to help with the vast number of the population that are awaiting vaccination.
"We are all anxiously waiting to hear from the Department of Health as to when more pharmacies will be granted approval."
Mr Atli also said the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine in pharmacies could not come soon enough.
"Obviously the idea is to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible," Mr Atli said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said community pharmacists already have an important role in Australia's vaccination program, administering vaccines including the yearly flu vaccine.
"We know that some of these communities have limited local access to general practitioner services and having these pharmacies involved will assist with the phased rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine to these communities," Ms Berejiklian said.
"This is a vital step to help ensure as many people in NSW as possible receive their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible."
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there is currently significant demand for vaccination bookings across NSW and this new pathway will make it easier for people right across the state to get their immunisation.
"I want to reassure the community that everyone in NSW who wants to be vaccinated, will be vaccinated as soon as possible when it's their turn," Mr Hazzard said.
Community pharmacies will need to meet certain standards in order to administer COVID-19 vaccines. These include:
- Must not supply or administer the vaccine to a person who is under the age of 60, or a patient with a contraindication or precaution to vaccination;
- Written consent from a patient;
- Mandatory training for vaccinators;
- Recording of each vaccination; and
- Conduct vaccinations under approved practice standards.
