Under the new arrangements, Australians who do not meet National Immunisation Program (NIP) eligibility criteria will need to pay privately for their COVID-19 vaccine, with individual pharmacies determining pricing based on vaccine procurement and service delivery costs.
The changes represent a new phase in Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program, with community pharmacies set to remain a key access point for vaccination services across the country.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Professor Trent Twomey said pharmacies would continue to play a leading role in protecting communities against COVID-19.
"COVID-19 vaccination remains a core pharmacy vaccination service and Australia's more than 6,000 community pharmacies will continue providing convenient and accessible vaccination services right across the country," Professor Twomey said.
"For many Australians, their local pharmacy is the easiest place to receive trusted health advice and vaccinations close to home, often without an appointment and with extended trading hours."
Professor Twomey said the upcoming funding changes also presented an opportunity for pharmacists to engage with patients about their vaccination status and broader preventive healthcare needs.
"COVID-19 continues to circulate in communities around Australia and vaccination remains one of the best ways to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community," he said.
Community pharmacies have administered millions of COVID-19 vaccinations since the pandemic began and have become an integral part of Australia's immunisation infrastructure. The accessibility and convenience of pharmacy vaccination services have helped improve vaccine uptake, particularly for patients in regional, rural and underserved communities.
While funding arrangements are changing, free COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be available under the National Immunisation Program for eligible groups, including adults aged 75 years and over every six months, adults aged 65 to 74 years annually, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 to 74 years annually, and adults aged 18 years and over with severe immunocompromise annually.
The transition to a mixed public-private model is expected to make conversations about vaccine eligibility, pricing and preventive healthcare increasingly important in community pharmacy settings.
Patients seeking a COVID-19 vaccination can continue to access services through their local community pharmacy, with participating pharmacies listed on Find a Pharmacy.
As Australia moves into the next stage of COVID-19 management, community pharmacies remain at the forefront of delivering accessible vaccination services and trusted health advice to patients nationwide.
