Flying pharmacist Jack Buckley is back in the air delivering Covid vaccines to regional NSW

The flying pharmacist is back in the air, after receiving an “urgent” call to action from the government. This time delivering critical Covid vaccines to communities in regional and rural NSW.

The ‘flying pharmacist’ has taken to the skies again.

A year after he first started flying medical supplies and staff to towns affected by the Lachlan River flood crisis, Jack Buckley is back.

This time Mr Buckley and his team have been hitting the road and the sky to vaccinate hundreds of aged care residents against Covid-19, at the request of the NSW Government.

The Forbes pharmacist and pilot of 15 years has chartered his own four-seater Piper Pathfinder to continue the rollout to remote parts of the states’ west.

“We received quite an urgent call from the Department of Health to help vaccinate more than 600 aged care residents, in 12 locations, within two weeks,” Mr Buckley said.

“It was important that we moved as quickly and efficiently as possible, medical services are under such extreme pressure in these regional and rural hubs”.

Fellow Life Pharmacy Group pharmacists have already travelled more than 3700km to deliver vaccines to Gilgandra, Wellington, Narromine, Yeoval, Bathurst and Dungog.

The call to action came after the government recommended an additional Covid-19 booster for all adults aged 75 and over.

“The patients were very grateful, very receptive, and very welcoming,” Mr Buckley said.

“To be able to put my hobby of flying, and my passion for community and preventive health together is incredibly rewarding.”

While on the road for Bush Summit earlier in July, Mr Buckley spoke about the importance of pharmacists in remote areas where access to medical services are limited.

“Never underestimate what community pharmacy can offer to patients,” he urged, “pharmacists are willing to help ease the burden”.

With today marking World Pharmacy Day, Mr Buckley and the LPG’s latest mission continues to highlight the critical role of pharmacists in regional, rural, and remote NSW.

Photo by Toby Zerna via The Daily Telegraph