COVID-19 Vaccination Program
The safety of our customers and broader community remains our number one priority during the pandemic. An effective vaccination program will significantly reduce the seriousness of illness if COVID-19 is contracted, and early studies demonstrate it may also reduce transmission of the virus.
Ramsay Health Care has been working with the federal and state governments regarding the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in Australia. A safe and effective vaccine will dramatically improve health outcomes and societal wellbeing and facilitate economic recovery.
Ramsay Pharmacy is proud to support the COVID-19 vaccination program in Australia and we have expressed our interest in being involved in administering the doses from Phase 2a, commencing in May 2021. With more than 120 accredited Pharmacist Immunisers across our hospital and community pharmacies, we are ready and available to provide this necessary service to our communities. We have extensive experience in administering vaccines; in 2020 alone, our pharmacists administered almost 17,000 doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine across Australia. All our pharmacist vaccinators will undergo the specific COVID vaccination training program to become accredited COVID vaccinators prior to the administration of any COVID-19 vaccine
Those eligible for Phase 2a vaccinations include:
- adults aged 60-69 years;
- adults aged 50-59 years;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18-54 years;
- ··other critical and high-risk workers;
- balance of adult population;
- catch-up any unvaccinated Australians from previous phases.
How the vaccine works
More information will be provided soon regarding how to book your COVID-19 vaccination. For further updates visit the Department of Health’s website for more information and read the FAQs here.
Better Care during COVID-19
At Ramsay Pharmacy we are dedicated to providing you with exceptional care and expert advice. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, we wanted to keep you informed of the additional operational measures we are taking to continue providing Better Care for you and our local communities.
Increased hygiene in store
Our pharmacy team already follow rigorous daily hygiene and cleaning processes. We have put in place additional steps to help protect you, our customer and our team. These include increasing the cleaning and disinfecting of high use areas within the pharmacy such as counters, ,removal of all product testers as well as pens, as we can assist in receipting your prescriptions, and increasing the frequency of hand sanitising and good hand hygiene practices amongst our team. Where possible, we ask that you pay via card to reduce the handling of cash.
Pharmacy services
Our Pharmacy team will continue to provide professional advice and essential services. This includes Influenza vaccinations, starting from the 30thof March 2020. Bookings are available online and in-store. In the short term, we will cease non-essential services, such as in store beauty services for your protection. If you have a pre-existing booking, our team will be in touch.
Prescriptions and health products
We are working closely with our suppliers to meet the increased demand for health products and medications but may experience shortages. We apologise for any inconvenience and will continue to work with our partners to maintain supply of the health products and medications you require. Talk to your Ramsay Pharmacist for any questions you have regarding the supply of these products.
How to slow the spread
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, practice good hygiene and physical distancing and follow the rules for public gatherings, quarantine and isolation.
Good hygiene
Good hygiene includes washing your hands, covering your coughs and cleaning your home or workplace.
Physical distancing
Find out how to practise physical distancing in public, at home, at work, and in schools.
Public gatherings
Understand the limits that apply to essential gatherings and non-essential gatherings.
Masks
Wearing a mask can help protect you and those around you if you are in an area with community transmission, and physical distancing is not possible.
Isolation and Quarantine
Stay up to date with local information about isolation and quarantine. Follow the directions from public health authorities and the medical professional who tested you.
To reduce your waiting time in store, we recommend ordering your prescriptions in advance by:
- Downloading the MedAdvisor App to order your medications and healthcare products on your smartphone, tablet or PC. Our friendly team can assist in setting this up if you don’t already have the app.
- Phoning or emailing ahead. If you keep your prescriptions with us, call or email ahead so we can organise to refill your prescription and be ready to collect or deliver to you. (Delivery available at selected stores). If there are any issues regarding supply and availability of your medication a team member will be in touch.
Limits on essential medicines
We would like to advise that from the 20th March 2020, the Australian Government has placed limits on the quantity of some essential medicines pharmacies can supply as prescription or over-the-counter medication. The limits concern:
• ONE MONTH’s supply for certain essential prescription medicines.
• ONE PACK of some essential over-the-counter medicines
Chat with our friendly team about the medicines that have been listed as essential. Pharmacists must now label all asthma reliever inhalers e.g. Ventolin™, Asmol™
Thank you for your understanding and support so we ensure equitable access of medicines to all our customers. Our team is here to care for you and deliver Better Care. If you have any questions please talk to one of our team members.
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