Guild welcomes approval of Moderna vaccine for all adolescents and adults

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the decision today by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to approve the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for all adolescents and adults.

The National President of the Guild, Trent Twomey, said the move which extends availability to people aged 12 and above, would help increase community coverage against the virus.

“Increasingly we are seeing evidence of younger people being affected by the Delta strain of COVID-19, so it is imperative that this age group is protected along with the rest of the community throughout Australia,” Mr Twomey said.

“Community pharmacies will be administering the Moderna vaccine as soon as supplies are available and extending the age-group eligibility is a common-sense move to ensure more people are protected.

“Importantly the availability of the Moderna vaccine means there are now two mRNA vaccines available in Australia – Moderna and Pfizer.

“The rate that patients are flocking to community pharmacies to have their vaccinations has highlighted the pivotal role community pharmacists are playing in the campaign to maximise vaccination uptake.

“The accessibility of these pharmacies and the trust that people have in their pharmacists and their staff are key to the success of including pharmacies in the rollout. I have no doubt that this will continue to be reflected in the uptake of Moderna vaccines through pharmacies.”

Mr Twomey said pharmacies were the most accessible healthcare professionals, and most pharmacies were open after normal business hours and on weekends.

“They are open when other vaccination points such as GP surgeries may not be open and so there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to get their Modera vaccine at a time and place that suits them when supplies are available.

“Pharmacies have helped get the vaccine rollout back on track and will now be able to further consolidate that roll by being able to protect younger people with the Moderna vaccine.”

Mr Twomey said people can book online, or just walk in for their vaccination. And if they are looking to see what pharmacies provide vaccinations, they can go to the findapharmacy.com.au website.