Castlemaine pharmacists expect to begin administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from this week.
Late last week the town’s Thomas and Chong and the McKenzie Davey pharmacies each confirmed they had received stocks of the AstraZenaeca vaccine.
And both anticipate their trained staff will be administering jabs in arms by the end of this week.
“The main problem to date has been supply,” said Kin Chong, pharmacist and co-owner of Castlemaine’s Thomas and Chong Terry White Chemist.
“Now that a consignment of AstraZeneca has arrived we will be opening for people to call up and make an appointment or book online, and we may be able to do some walk-ins, although bookings are preferable,” said Mr Chong who is also the region’s Pharmacy Guild of Victoria representative.
“We have no worries with supply of AstraZeneca at the moment for all our stores here in Castlemaine and also our stores at Kerang and Barham,” he told the Midland Express.
“Anyone over 18 can receive AstraZeneca and AstraZeneca is recommended for people over 60.
“And once stocks of Pfizer and Moderna become available we also hope to administer them as well.”
Mr Chong encouraged anyone with questions around the vaccines to have a conversation with their pharmacist or doctor.
All of the Castlemaine pharmacists that the Express spoke to were keen to help shoulder the role of administering the vaccine rollout alongside Castlemaine Health’s dedicated vaccine clinic and local GPs, thereby freeing local doctors up to attend to other ongoing health needs of their patients.
“It’s exciting,” said pharmacist Leon Thomas, co-owner of Castlemaine’s Thomas and Chong Terry White pharmacy.
“I think the good thing is that it might help the public realise the health team is here for them and we’re part of that team.”
Mr Thomas also urged anyone with doubts or questions not to be afraid to have a vaccination conversation with pharmacists or the doctors.
“We take it pretty seriously and we’re trying to help the doctors and the hospital clinic get our region vaccinated,” he said.
Pharmacist and co-owner of the town’s Amcal McKenzie Davey Pharmacy, Jeremy Byrne, also confirmed they had just received a consignment of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“We’ve got the vaccine and we should be up and running by the end of the week,” he said.
“We’re happy to take bookings or walk-ins.”
Mr Byrne said he understood that Pfizer or Moderna were expected to also become available for local pharmacists to help administer by October.
