COVID-19
Disaster payment to provide ‘invaluable’ support, but RATs still an issue
Government backflips and agrees to reinstate pandemic leave payments, but the concessional RAT program is still set to end Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has agreed to reinstate the Pandemic Leave …
The week in review
There was again lots of COVID-19 news this week, from vaccination to expanded eligibility for antivirals… and a message for impatient customers Prime Minister Anthony Albanese got vaccinated against flu …
‘He’s not an expert in diagnosis, he’s not an expert in management.’
A call to allow pharmacists to prescribe antivirals for COVID has been labelled “really sad” by a leading doctor The Pharmacy Guild and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners …
‘Book your booster,’ says Albo
The PM chooses a Sydney pharmacy for his COVID booster dose, while one stakeholder calls for remuneration for pharmacists’ critical role in vaccination Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was vaccinated against …
‘The result will be a lot of people not testing at all.’
Stakeholders from Chemist Warehouse all the way through to the RACGP are begging the Federal Government not to end the concessional RAT program this month as planned A Chemist Warehouse …
‘Very sensible’ change to antiviral eligibility: Guild
Access to antivirals for COVID on the PBS has been widened to include anyone aged over 70 All Australians aged over 70 who test positive to COVID will be able …
The week in review
Between news of the Queensland UTI trial, a focus on pay and conditions and COVID news, it’s been a busy week in pharmacy The Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot—Queensland made …
Australia needs to be ‘jolted from complacency:’ SHPA
The SHPA has called for improved access to antivirals to treat COVID, as well as an extra vaccine for health workers The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia has added …
How has COVID affected Australians’ health?
New report shows where we’ve failed and done well, writes Stephen Duckett, The University of Melbourne The SARS-CoV-2 virus was first detected in Australia on January 25 2020. Within two …
Winter booster expanded
The eligibility for a winter dose of COVID-19 vaccine has been expanded, in a move welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated its …
Antiviral PBS criteria too restrictive: Butler
“We’re not getting them out the door,” the Health Minister says of antivirals, as a new wave of Omicron looms and one pharmacy leader calls for improved access Australia has …
When RAT-testing for COVID, should you also swab your throat?
Should we also be using our rapid antigen test (RAT) to swab our throat, as some social media sources suggest? asks Thea Van De Mortel of Griffith University We’re now …