Geraldton pharmacies given the green light to administer COVID-19 vaccines from next month

Geraldton residents can get their COVID-19 jab from their local pharmacy from next month as part of the next phase in the vaccine rollout.

On April 22, National Cabinet agreed States and Territories could choose to incorporate community pharmacies into their roll-out plans in rural and remote areas where there were no or limited other points of presence.

Eight community pharmacies in WA started administering AstraZeneca vaccinations on July 5, with an additional 41 pharmacies to deliver COVID vaccines from July 12.

Pharmacy 194 expects to begin vaccinating from August 16; Blooms the Chemist, Chemist Warehouse, and Optimal Pharmacy Plus Northgate from August 9; and Optimal Pharmacy Plus Sunset Beach from August 19.

Rangeway Guardian, Optimal Pharmacy Plus Stirling and Terry White Chemmart Bluff Point have also registered as vaccine providers and hope to receive doses some time next month.

We have a long list of people who actually want to get it done and we will be calling them as soon as we know the details.

Blooms the Chemist manager Barbara Kirk said many customers had inquired when they could receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the pharmacy.

“We have a long list of people who actually want to get it done and we will be calling them as soon as we know the details,” she said.

• Pharmacy vaccine rollout "too little, too late"

A Department of Health spokesperson said community pharmacies would “play an important role” in the COVID-19 vaccination program.

“As additional vaccine supply is delivered over the coming months, additional community pharmacies will be brought online to support an enhanced primary care rollout to ensure the broadest possible coverage for the community,” they said.