FDA: Community pharmacists may soon administer vaccines

Community pharmacists may soon be allowed to administer vaccines and other immuno-products, after they take training courses formulated by the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Philippine Pharmacists Association.

Acting FDA director general Kenneth Hartigan-Go said the training course will be conducted by the FDA with a licensed immunizing pharmacist.

"Licensed pharmacists in FDA-licensed drug outlets who have completed the training course may be authorized by the FDA to vaccinate healthy individuals," he said.

The course will have five modules:

Hartigan-Go said vaccination of adults will help ensure protection against infectious diseases like influenza, and ensure protection of susceptible people including infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and other immuno-compromised patients.

On the other hand, he said the country's drug outlets numbering about 24,000 will be government's partners in promoting public health.

"The DOH is working closely with PhilHealth... to fully cover the cost of adult vaccination for qualified individuals," he said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News