A BERRI pharmacy will become the first pharmacy delivering Covid-19 vaccines in the region when it starts its vaccination program next week.
Riverland Plaza Pharmacy will receive its first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week and is expected to start vaccinating from next Tuesday.
Pharmacist and owner Brenton Chapple said the clinic could receive a maximum of 300 doses per fortnight from the federal government depending on demand.
“Once we get confirmation that the vaccines are going to be here, we’ll then open up bookings,” he said.
“It will be a very similar process to the flu vaccinations.
“We will have an online booking system so customers can book in a time or date that suits them online, or by ringing or coming into the store.
“We got all the consumables on Friday, so I’d say early next week we’ll get the rest of the order, being the doses of the vaccine.”
The pharmacy is part of an expansion of the vaccination program across the state, with about 100 rural and remote South Australian pharmacies chosen to take part initially.
Mr Chapple said he believed rolling vaccines out through community pharmacies would make it more convenient for people to get vaccinated.
“It will increase accessibility – not everyone sees a GP so hopefully we’ll be able to catch some people who want the vaccine but maybe don’t want to go the GP clinic,” he said.
“Having more places also allows more flexibility in times and locations for people to get the vaccine as well.”
Mr Chapple said pharmacists administering Covid-19 vaccines were required to undergo further training.
“Although we’ve been providing vaccines at the pharmacy for the flu for the last four years, with the Covid vaccine there is an additional training module,” he said.”