COVID-19 Pharmacy Update

Based on the information released by the government so far, it is anticipated that a shift to COVID-19 alert level 3 will not significantly alter the way essential businesses are providing products and services. The Prime Minister indicated that further detail will be provided for the health sector soon. We are currently undertaking work in this space and we welcome feedback from members about any questions/suggestions you have on pharmacy practice and switching between COVID-19 alert levels.

PHARMAC and the Ministry of Health have implemented a blanket extension of three months for special authority and NPPA approvals that were due to expire at the end of March or April 2020.

• All Special Authorities that were due to expire on 31 March 2020 or 30 April 2020 have been extended for 3 months (i.e. 31 March extended to 30 June 2020 and 30 April extended to 31 July 2020).
• All Named Patient Pharmaceutical Application (“NPPA”) approvals that were due to expire on 31 March 2020 or 30 April 2020 have been extended for 3 months (i.e. 31 March extended to 30 June 2020 and 30 April extended to 31 July 2020).

This blanket change to expiry dates was implemented on Wednesday 15 April 2020 by the Ministry of Health and the changes are visible in the Electronic Special Authority System (“ESAS”). The PHARMAC website has more details about this change.

As mentioned last week, each DHB now has a PPE coordinator to liaise with providers in their area to determine the PPE needs. We provided a list of contact details of the PPE coordinators; this list has been updated.

Last week we included several updates from the Ministry of Health around vaccination.We’d like to highlight and clarify several aspects:

Expired CPR certificates for trained vaccinators

The Ministry indicated that given the current situation, trained vaccinators with expired CPR certificates could continue to vaccinate and complete an update course as soon as practically possible. Pharmacy Council expects that pharmacists meet their professional and ethical obligations to maintain competence for activities they undertake and comply with Ministry of Health/IMAC vaccinator requirements. For current pharmacist vaccinators, Council recommend that the leeway applies only if the pharmacist’s level 4 (CORE Immediate – adult and child) CPR certificate has recently expired. They understand that some CPR updates have been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Clinical assessments can be undertaken by a peer vaccinator

Another announcement was the introduction of the option for a ‘peer clinical assessment’ by an experienced pharmacist vaccinator or authorised vaccinator. This option is very helpful given current situational constraints though is important to note a peer assessment only provides a two-year provisional authorisation and there is a requirement to have a full clinical assessment prior to expiry of the provisional authorisation. Completed peer assessment forms should be sent to IMAC (who will issue a certificate of provisional authorisation) and to the local immunisation coordinator. A specific peer assessment form is being developed by IMAC and we will advise the sector as soon as these forms become available.

New influenza, MMR and pandemic response provisional vaccinator training course

A new, free Influenza, MMR and Pandemic Vaccinator Training Course has been developed for the administration of influenza, MMR and any potential COVID-19 vaccine. This ‘provisional vaccinator course’ involves four hours of online learning, an online assessment, and a vaccine administration webinar followed by clinical peer review by an authorised vaccinator.Vaccinators who pass the requirements will be given a two-year provisional authorisation for MMR and Influenza. A further online learning module will need to be completed for ‘provisional vaccinators’ to undertake COVID-19 vaccinations.

This ‘provisional vaccinator course’ might seem like an attractive option, but it only gives a limited scope for a limited time. If a pharmacist wishes to give the full scope of pharmacy vaccines, they need to complete the full vaccinator training course and process. ‘Provisional vaccinators’ wishing to continue to vaccinate after the two-year provisional authorisation period will need to complete a vaccinator bridging programme (there will be a cost for this) and complete all the requirements to be an authorised or pharmacist vaccinator including a full clinical assessment. This bridging course option will only be available for completion until the end of 2023.

It is also important to note the first aid requirement for the provisional vaccinator course is a CPR certificate at Public/Basic Level 3 or above. The entry level first aid/CPR required for the pharmacy profession is level 2 and would not meet the requirements.

All Right? and the Mental Health Foundation have launched a wellbeing campaign to help New Zealanders look after their mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting Through Together – Whāia E Tātou Te Pae Tawhiti focuses on providing people with the tools they need to be able to manage their worries, look after their mental health and connect with loved ones, despite operating from their own bubbles.

A key is that we can get through tough times by being there for each other and looking after ourselves. Sometimes it’s the smallest things we do, such as sharing a smile or reaching out to a friend, that can make the biggest difference to our mental health.

They have posters in A4 or A3 available, in both English and te reo Māori. If you would like to order some free posters for display at your premises, please fill in the form, or email zooey.neumann@mentalhealth.org.nz