Protecting you while you’re protecting all of us

As some pharmacy professionals across Australia begin preparations for the vaccine rollout, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, PDL and Guild Insurance have been working hard to ensure all pharmacists have the protection they need to participate.

We understand, some pharmacists have already been told, or soon will be, if their pharmacy is able to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program. The roll out of the program has many moving parts, and now is a great time to consider your insurance needs if you will participate in this program.

Confirming your current cover

For pharmacists covered by either a Guild Insurance Business Insurance policy or the PDL Master policy who are participating in the COVID-19 vaccination program, your policy will cover you for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccination. You will need to ensure that you understand the obligations that are placed on you by government approved protocols and training and take reasonable steps to comply.

Your premium will not change as a result of your participation in the vaccination program.

Future changes to your policy

While your Guild Insurance and PDL policies cover you for your participation, there will be some changes for policies taken out or renewing from 30 April 2021. These changes will apply to all new policies from 30 April 2021:

Vaccine cover

Your Pharmacy Business Insurance policy will have a new vaccine cover specifically added to your policy. This will clarify the cover you have for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccinations (and other vaccinations also) as long as you take reasonable steps to understand the obligations that are placed on you by Government approved protocols and training and take reasonable steps to comply.

Vaccine efficacy

In Australia the general legal position is that issues regarding the efficacy of a product or whether a product is fit for purpose are the responsibility of the manufacturer. As such, any patient seeking compensation for harm caused by a COVID-19 vaccine should pursue the relevant manufacturer. We will clarify your policy on this point to reduce the likelihood of you being pursued for an issue that is the responsibility of vaccine manufacturers.

Efficacy defence cost cover

Efficacy Defence Costs cover is a new and unique peace of mind benefit. It is designed to protect you from speculative actions by third parties attempting to wrongly draw you in to a claim that should properly be pursued against the vaccine manufacturers. This is a benefit that is exclusively available to pharmacists from Guild Insurance and will not have an impact on your premium.

While vaccine efficacy will not be covered, we are providing new cover for legal defence costs incurred on your behalf of up to $250,000 to defend you if you are named as a defendant in a claim where the cause of patient harm is deemed to be the vaccine, rather than its preparation or administration by you as a pharmacist.

Thank you for continuing to be at the front line of the nation’s response, we look forward to continuing to protect you while you do it.

If you have any questions about your current, or future coverage, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our insurance experts by calling Guild Insurance on 1800 810 213 or PDL on 1300 854 838.

DISCLAIMER

Insurance issued by Guild Insurance Limited ABN 55 004 538 863, AFS Licence No. 233791 and subject to terms, conditions and exclusions. Guild Insurance supports your association through the payment of referral fees. Please refer to the policy wording and policy schedule for details. For more information call 1800 810 213.

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