Pharmacy staff
work in the heart of their communities, providing vital services and trusted
healthcare advice to those most vulnerable in society. It is completely
unacceptable that they should be attacked while carrying out their jobs.
There is a zero tolerance on any form of abuse on pharmacy teams in Northern Ireland and we reiterate our support for the team who suffered such an attack. We call on the public to be kind, understand the difficult environment that our community pharmacists are working in and have patience.
The Living Well service provides key public health messages and
advice through community pharmacies that are contracted to provide the
service.
Through the Living Well service, pharmacies can help address risk factors which contribute significantly to the overall prevalence of disease in Northern Ireland. A campaign schedule has been developed that is aligned with public health priorities. Community pharmacists and pharmacy staff will display and provide information as well as give advice on targeted campaign topics to patients presenting prescriptions and to general pharmacy visitors.
Northern Ireland’s community pharmacies have
administered 250,000 COVID-19 vaccinations as the professional teams continue
to push ahead with the expanding vaccination service.
The 250,000-vaccine milestone encompasses the primary
and booster vaccinations administered since the sector’s inclusion in the
vaccination programme in March 2021.
Community pharmacy is now the main provider of first
and second COVID-19 vaccination doses as well as delivering the booster
vaccination to those eligible through community pharmacy (currently those aged 30
and over, and three months since second vaccine dose).
Currently, over 250 community pharmacies are providing
the Moderna booster vaccination for all those who are eligible.
Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI,
Gerard Greene said:
“Reaching this significant milestone is a
credit to the work and dedication of our community pharmacy teams. The network
joined the vaccination programme back in March and since then has been working
incredibly hard to maximise the levels of protection against COVID-19 across
our communities. Administering 250,000 vaccines in nine months shows the value
of accessible and convenient community pharmacy locations and the community
pharmacy teams have played a significant role in getting overall numbers to
where they are today. During the
recent Community Pharmacy ‘Big Jab Weekend’ over sixty local pharmacies
vaccinated over 11,000 people with their COVID-19 vaccine or booster, which is
a tremendous achievement.
As we approach some of the busiest weeks in
Community Pharmacy, our pharmacy teams will be working hard to dispense the medicines patients will need
for the Christmas and new year holiday periods. I would ask the public to be
patient as this may affect the availability of the COVID-19 vaccination service
at some community pharmacies in the lead up to and over the festive season.
Sean Grimley, community pharmacist at Pharmacy
Plus said:
“As a community pharmacist, I’ve seen daily the
benefit of providing the COVID-19 vaccine to those living locally in the
community. Community pharmacy is the first choice for many in our
neighborhoods, including the elderly and those unable to travel, due to our convenient
location and the fact that patients trust us. It has been really encouraging to
be able to provide primary doses and booster jabs to our patients and support
them throughout this period.
“Working in the community, we are live to the
concerns from patients in relation to increased COVID-19 transmissibility and ease
of access to vaccines which is why it is so important that we continue to provide
all doses required to give the maximum protection possible and allay the
concerns patients might have.”
Belfast’s community pharmacy workforce has been
recognised at the prestigious Aisling Awards in recognition of their continued
commitment to patient care throughout the past twelve months.
Receiving the ‘Roll of Honour’ award, for those who
have repeatedly gone the extra mile for the people of Belfast, a special
recognition was given to the city’s community pharmacists for going beyond their
day-to-day services to support their patients in communities across the city.
Earlier this year saw the community pharmacy network introduce
an Emergency Supply of Medicines Service and a prescription delivery service to
provide vulnerable, self-isolating and shielding patients with direct access to
their medicines from home.
In taking home this year’s Award, the accessibility of
the community pharmacy network was highlighted with the sector now the leading
provider of first and second dose Covid-19 vaccinations; as well as a community
access point for the flu vaccine and distribution of Lateral Flow Tests, reducing transmission and winter pressures at a pivotal
moment for our health service.
Speaking as he receives the award on behalf of
the Belfast pharmacy network, Chair of Community Pharmacy NI, Peter Rice said:
“It’s an incredible honour to accept this
year’s Roll of Honour Award on behalf of the community pharmacists of Belfast.
During the last twelve months, community pharmacists from right across the city
have shown remarkable levels of commitment and dedication to patient care.
Whether through the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, which began back in March
to the launch of new winter pressure measures to guide us through the months
ahead, community pharmacy has been steadfast in its dedication, delivery, and
commitment at each stage.
“This has been a year like no other and
community pharmacy teams right across Belfast and beyond have been tested like
never before. The pandemic brought increased footfall and a spike in demand for
services such as the dispensing of medicines. As a sector we recognised at an
early stage that this would be a hugely uncertain time for many of our patients
and stepped-up services to support those increasingly contacting their local
community pharmacy as other parts of the health service became less accessible.
“I want to pay tribute to each and every
community pharmacist for continuing to go the extra mile in support of their
communities. The hard-work and unyielding commitment to patient care has been
the defining characteristic of my colleagues over the last year and it is
fantastic for this to be acknowledged in this way.”
The countdown is on to the Community
Pharmacy “Big Jab
Weekend” taking place on Saturday
4 and Sunday 5 December 2021.
“Get vaccinated and boost your immunity”
is the message behind the weekend which sees many community pharmacies across
Northern Ireland increasing their vaccination provision to help encourage uptake
of COVID-19 primary and booster vaccines, for those who are eligible.
Peter Rice, Community Pharmacist said, “The “Big Jab Weekend” will see participating community pharmacies opening up more opportunities for people to get vaccinated either at their pharmacies, or pharmacy led walk-in clinics. The service is available for those who need their 1st or 2nd COVID-19 vaccine or if they are eligible for their booster jab. This is currently the 40 and over age group who received their 2nd dose at least six months ago and those aged 50 and above who received their 2nd dose at least three months ago. As there will be different levels of provision at each participating pharmacy, I would ask the public to link with their local community pharmacy’s social media channels for more information.
To date 211,000 vaccines have been
administered through the community pharmacy sector in Northern Ireland and the
outstanding contribution of the profession in the vaccination programme has
been widely recognised. The “Big Jab Weekend” will build on this, helping to
get more people vaccinated ahead of a challenging winter period, providing
greater protection for themselves, their loved ones and the wider community”.
ENDS//
Upper Bann MLA Diane
Dodds has praised the work of Community Pharmacies in the roll-out of the
booster vaccine. Mrs Dodds has encouraged anyone eligible to receive their
booster to do so as soon as possible.
The Upper Bann MLA was
speaking after she received her booster vaccine through the Community Pharmacy
Programme, at Gordons Chemist in Banbridge.
Mrs Dodds said,
“We know that the
booster programme is the single most effective tool that we have in our
collective effort to combat Covid-19. The Chief Scientific Advisor was clear,
the booster programme would reduce hospitalisations by at least 15%.
I warmly welcome the
increased efforts to speed up the booster roll-out and pay tribute to the work
of community pharmacies, who have played a leading role in the programme.
I would strongly
encourage anyone who is eligible to receive the booster vaccine to do so as
soon as possible. Either through their local community pharmacy, their GP or
local vaccination centre.
It is important that
we build on the progress of the booster programme and ramp-up the roll-out in
the coming weeks.
As we approach the
Christmas period, it is vital that we all continue to follow the public health
advice to reduce the spread of the virus.”
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