Pharmacists Prepped to Administer H1N1 Vaccine

By 250 News

VICTORIA - Specially-trained pharmacists in B.C. can now provide patients with vaccine injections.

"As we are facing both regular flu season and the H1N1 flu pandemic, pharmacists can now help administer the annual flu vaccine, including vaccinations for H1N1," said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon.

About 150 pharmacists from across the province have already completed the training to meet the certification program. More pharmacists are expected to complete the training in additional sessions scheduled
over the next couple of months.

The BC Pharmacy Association is the first to offer an accredited training program for pharmacists to learn injection skills.

To be able to give vaccines, pharmacists are required to successfully complete the training program before receiving authorization from the college to administer injections for vaccination purposes. The college
has also established standards of practice for injection based on the recommendation of an inter-professional committee.

The H1N1 flu vaccine will be made available to British Columbians beginning the week of Oct. 26. It will be available first to those people who would most benefit from immunization (individuals under 65 years of age with chronic disease, pregnant women and individuals - including First Nations people - living in remote or isolated communities).

Following that, it will be available to other groups who would benefit most (children under five years old, health-care workers and household contacts and care providers of infants and immunocompromised people) and then to members of the general public in a phased approach. When people are eligible for their H1N1 vaccine and if they fall under the usual guidelines for seasonal flu, it will now also be possible for them to receive both shots at the same time.

For information about upcoming flu clinics at your local pharmacy, talk to your pharmacist.

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