The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes today’s announcement that all Western Australians will be able to access a free influenza vaccine from their local pharmacist.
PSA WA President Lusi Sheehan congratulated the McGowan Government on being the first Australian state to fund influenza vaccines ahead of the 2023 flu season, and urged all Western Australians to get their flu vaccine before winter.
“For the month of May, Western Australians will be able to get their flu vaccine from their local pharmacist for free.
“In 2022, only 35.8 per cent of West Australians got their influenza vaccine, below the national average of 38.7 per cent.
“Pharmacists are able to vaccinate patients 5 years and over, meaning many families can come into their pharmacy together for their flu vaccines.
“With the flu season now in full swing, we need to do everything we can to protect Australian children, who can be influenza super-spreaders, by increasing access to vaccination and providing them and their families with optimal protection against this deadly disease.
“As pharmacists we have demonstrated the crucial role we continue to play in protecting the health of Australians.
“We are already seeing early spikes in influenza cases in Western Australia, beyond pre-pandemic levels, indicating that the upcoming influenza season will be significant.
“We must do better than this to protect the most vulnerable in our communities.
“Pharmacists are practicing in almost every community from Perth to Broome, supporting the health and wellbeing of our patients.
