COVID-19 remains a high risk for some members of our community, which is why Albion Park Rail Advantage pharmacy has been helping people who are vulnerable to maintain protection. 

Over the past 12 months Frances Lae, a pharmacist based at Albion Park Rail, has vaccinated about 100 people who were otherwise unable to access the vaccines.  

“COVID-19 can be dangerous, especially for people with a disability and with existing medical conditions. For some people, visiting a GP surgery or pharmacy to receive a vaccine is not an option,” said Frances. 

“The pandemic has highlighted the number of vulnerable patients who are truly housebound and can’t travel outside of their homes to set foot in a GP's room. It has been a bit of a shock to see how disadvantaged some people are in terms of mobility, we’ve had to raise beds to prop up people who are bedbound. We have also visited people who are receiving chemotherapy, who are told to get the vaccine by their specialist but are unable to sit in a waiting room,” she said. 

“I believe every person deserves protection from COVID, so for the past three years we’ve worked with disability providers and responded to other requests to arrange home visits travelling as far as 50 kilometres from our pharmacy. We've fought through storms and winds to get to some, but it has been rewarding to know had we not tried these patients would have been left unprotected, especially as we have visited many for subsequent boosters.” 

Frances added “I’ve learnt a lot through this role, some people have an aversion to needles and are fearful. I have a few strategies such as talking about the vaccine in a light-hearted natural way, using social stories and role playing. Consent is important, as is being informed of triggers and previous experiences, be they positive or negative.  

“It is rewarding work, we actively ask people about their needs and have become part of a support ecosystem. Everyone is so grateful for the service we provide, it is definitely worth the effort. I can’t see the threat of COVID going away any time soon so hopefully we can continue the service if we have sufficient staff,” she said. 

COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN ensures that GPs, practice nurses and pharmacists in South Eastern NSW have access to government funding to support their work in vaccinating vulnerable people such as those who are homebound for COVID-19. This includes people who reside in disability residential services, residential aged care or a private home. 

Primary care vaccination services interested in providing COVID-19 vaccinations to vulnerable members of their community can contact rjohnson@coordinare.org.au. 

 

 

Information about COVID-19 vaccination for people with a disability is available here.

A webinar hosted by NCIRS includes some of the strategies referred to by Frances Lae. You can watch the webinar here.

Immunisation, Prevention initiatives,