The Ministry of Health (mainland Portugal) has decided to include the Covid-19 booster vaccination in the new flu vaccination season, which should begin in the second half of September.
This measure is part of an initiative where pharmacies have to assist health systems, particularly the National Health Service.
To ensure “the success and maximum quality” of the entire process, pharmacists with pharmaceutical competence in the administration of vaccines and injectable drugs will be notified during the first half of September to attend a Covid-19 course in preparation for the new flu season.
The article did not cite whether Madeira was included in this, however, with August Covid-19 figures showing a sharp increase the mandate should roll out to all eligible pharmacies and pharmacists.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
: Covid-19 vaccination kicks off in pharmacies (Dailymotion))
In this sense, the OF has compiled a set of “Questions and Answers” to support pharmacists, encompassing issues related to training for vaccine administration, the logistical process of vaccination and eligibility criteria of the population to be inoculated in community pharmacies.
For Helder Mota Filipe, integrating pharmacists in vaccination against covid-19 “is a good measure of the Government” and meets a proposal that the Order of Nurses had already been making.
Community pharmacies that have a vaccine administration service, professionals with specific training for vaccine administration and that express availability to participate in the campaign may participate in the seasonal vaccination campaign, according to an ordinance published on August 17 in the Official Gazette.
These pharmacies will be able to practice a longer schedule, and the list of adherents is available on the websites of the National Health Service, the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) and Infarmed.
According to the ordinance, it will now be up to the DGS to issue the technical guidelines that govern the vaccination process, namely with the definition of vaccination criteria and eligible users.
Covid-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a type of virus detected in late 2019 in China and that has spread rapidly around the world, taking on several variants and subvariants, some more contagious than others.
The disease was classified as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and in May 2023 it ceased to be an international public health emergency.
