Australian Capital Territory
Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods (Vaccinations by Pharmacists) Direction 2017 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2017–116
made under the  
Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008, section 352 (Authorisation for pharmacist and intern pharmacist to administer vaccine without prescription - Act, s 37 (1)(b)) 
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Section 352 of the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (the MPTGR) establishes that a pharmacist is authorised to administer a vaccine to an adult without a prescription if the pharmacist administers the vaccine in accordance with a direction by the Chief Health Officer. 

That same section also provides that the Chief Health Officer may, by disallowable instrument, give directions for the administration of a vaccine to an adult without prescription by a pharmacist (or intern pharmacists). 

This instrument is a direction of the Chief Health Officer issued under section 352 of the MPTGR. The direction instructs that a pharmacist or intern pharmacist may administer a vaccine without prescription if they comply with the Pharmacist Vaccination Standards (Vaccination Standards) imposed by the Chief Health Officer at Schedule 1 of this instrument.

These Vaccination Standards are made for the purposes of establishing conditions and criteria under which registered pharmacists may initiate the administration of the seasonal influenza vaccine; or the diptheria, tetanus, a‑cellular pertussis (dTpa) vaccine to adults in the absence of a supply authority (prescription).  The development of Vaccination Standards relating to pharmacist vaccinations is consistent with the approach taken by several Australian states and territories and takes into consideration targeted stakeholder consultation in 2015. 

The Vaccination Standards outline the need for administering pharmacists to comply with the following three components: 
•	Completion of appropriate training to administer an approved vaccine; 
•	Practice standards; and 
•	Record keeping requirements. 

Part A of the Vaccination Standards specifies the training requirements for pharmacists to be authorised to administer approved substance (vaccine) in the ACT. Approved vaccines under the Vaccination Standards include the seasonal influenza vaccine and the diptheria, tetanus, a‑cellular pertussis (dTpa) vaccine.

These training requirements are considered to be consistent with the minimum training standards required in other Australian jurisdiction, being the completion of a training course that accords with the Australian Pharmacy Council Standards for the Accreditation of Programs to Support Pharmacist Administration of Vaccines (current version).

Part B of the Vaccination Standards provides an outline of general administration; premises, staffing and equipment; and administration area requirements. 

Part C of the Vaccination Standards sets out recording keeping requirements for pharmacists and pharmacies. This section has been updated to encourage pharmacists to consult, and record vaccination events on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) in the interest of establishing a consistent and accurate vaccination immunisation record for all Australians.  Record keeping requirements under the Vaccinations Standards are broadly aligned with the record requirements of other Australian jurisdictions.