The Provincial Government is pleased that pharmacists throughout the province are now joining family physicians, the regional health authorities and other health care professionals to increase access to universal influenza vaccinations. Prior to the 2020-21 flu season, pharmacists could only provide vaccinations to clients of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. By working together with pharmacists, anyone in the province ages five and over can now get a free flu shot at a participating community pharmacy.
Pharmacists are valued health care professionals, who in addition to providing essential advice on medications and their safe use, can help people quit smoking, help manage diabetes and other chronic conditions, and prescribe for many minor ailments.
Since January 30, 2020, pharmacists have also been able to prescribe for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A and B (including the TWINRIX vaccine), shingles (Herpes Zoster), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and chickenpox (Varicella Zoster). People can visit their local pharmacy for any of these vaccines without requiring a prescription from a physician.
Quote
“Our government values the essential role that pharmacists play in our health care system. Expanding the eligible provider list for the province’s universal flu vaccination program to include them is certainly a positive step in our immunization efforts. Pharmacists are doing great work. They should take pride in the extraordinary care they are providing during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Located in health care centres and more than 200 community pharmacies across the province, pharmacists are ideally situated to help government meet their goal influenza vaccination rate of 85 per cent. As the Minister stated, pharmacists play an important role in the delivery of health care services to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, and this is another convenient and valuable service they can offer their patients.”
Janice Audeau
President, Pharmacists’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
– 30 –
Learn more
Time for the Shot
Changes to Pharmacy Regulations Effective Tomorrow
Pharmacists’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @HCS_GovNL
Media contacts
Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-1982
kathydickspeyton@gov.nl.ca
Jennifer Collingwood
Pharmacists’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
709-753-7881
jcollingwood@panl.net