1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: We do know that the rollout of the vaccine is 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: indeed going to play a huge part in opening up Australia, 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: and I know that there is still some vaccine hesitancy 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: from some territories. But joining us on the line to 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: talk further about this rollout and the part that pharmacies 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: are going to play. Pharmacy Guild NT Branch Director Judith Oliver, 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: Good morning. 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: To you, Judith. Good morning Katie. 9 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time this morning, Judith, 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: and well, can you talk us through where we are 11 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: at right now when it comes to the rollout into pharmacies. 12 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: Well, look, in the NT, we have sixteen pharmacies that 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: will begin delivering the Astrodenka vaccine from the twelfth of July. 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 2: Those pharmacies are spread around the NT in Alice Springs, Tenantcreet, Catherine, 15 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: Joe and Palmerston and the rural area and they're getting 16 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: ready as we speak to commence with the astra Zeneca vaccine. 17 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: Well, that was going to be my next question. Are 18 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: they ready and what vaccine will they be able to 19 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: roll out? 20 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 2: So the pharmacies are ready, It's important to remember that 21 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 2: the pharmacies in the NT have been providing vaccinations since 22 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: twenty fifteen, so they're very experienced in offering this type 23 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:30,199 Speaker 2: of service. They have been limited in their ability to 24 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: order the COVID vaccinations up to this point, but they 25 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: have now ordered stock and it has begun to arrive 26 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 2: into our pharmacies. 27 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: Has that been in the process, sorry, Judith, has that 28 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: been quite a frustration for our pharmacies not being able 29 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: to really, you know, to order stock as freely as 30 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: you'd like to be able to. 31 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 2: Look, we've been ready to provide COVID vaccination since the 32 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: beginning of the year and we've had to wait until 33 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 2: the Commonwealth and Anti government brought us into the vaccine rollout. 34 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 2: So yes, it has been frustrating. We're ready to go now. 35 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: I guess the next question will be when we're able 36 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: to deliver the full fleet of COVID vaccinations, so including 37 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: the fiber and maderna vaccines when they come along. We're 38 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: hopeful that that will be from September or so. 39 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: Or later in the year, because that is going to 40 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: realistically limit who you'll be able to deliver this vaccine 41 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: to through pharmacies, won't it. I know that the Prime 42 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: Minister changed his communication around the vaccine and astrosenica earlier 43 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,399 Speaker 1: in the week. But does that mean that our pharmacies 44 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: are going to be able to do administer the astroseneica 45 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: to those under the age of fifty at the moment 46 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: or is it really just going to be those over 47 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: that age group. 48 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: At the moment where pharmacies will liver according to the 49 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 2: approved protocol, so that will be to people over sixty 50 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: at the moment. There is always, as with any medication, 51 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 2: an individual patient should talk to their GP about any 52 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 2: the risk benefit ratio for them in using the vaccine 53 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: if they're outside of that particular age group. 54 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 1: Now, in terms of in terms of the rollout nationally, 55 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: I know that the pharmacy Guild nationally had been a 56 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: little bit cross earlier in the week. I G I 57 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: should say, with the lack of ability to roll out 58 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: as quickly as as you guys have been ready and 59 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: willing to roll the vaccine out. 60 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it is very frustrating. I think the states and 61 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: territories are very gradually bringing pharmacies into this vaccine rollout. 62 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: Some states and territories still aren't including pharmacy. And when 63 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: you consider that last year three million flu vaccines were 64 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 2: delivered through pharmacies around the country. You know, there is 65 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: a tremendous ability there for pharmacies to pick up this 66 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 2: challenge and up those vaccination rates. We feel a bit 67 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 2: like we're sitting on the sidelines waiting to be called 68 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 2: in when we're really quite capable of doing a lot 69 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: more than we are at the moment. 70 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's you know, this is I suppose one 71 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: of the frustrations right around Australia, isn't it that we're 72 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: you know, that we're not getting everybody vaccinated as quickly 73 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: as as we're capable probably of being able to do. 74 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 2: That's right, That's right. 75 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: And Judith, is there anything else we should be aware 76 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: of before that rollout does begin in our pharmacies very soon? 77 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: Look, we're hopeful that the pharmacies need to be hooked 78 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: up to the Commonwealth Government booking platform and that is 79 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: happening as we speak. So in the next week or so, 80 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: we would hope that people in the mt will be 81 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: able to book their appointment for an ASTROSENCA COVID vaccine 82 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 2: in their pharmacy online. I'm ready for that twelfth of 83 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: July start. 84 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: Well, Judas Oliver, it is great to speak with you 85 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: this morning from the Pharmacy Guild of the Northern Territory, 86 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: the branch director. We really appreciate your time today and 87 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: all the best. We'll probably catch up with you very 88 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: soon again. 89 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.