Pharmacists will soon be able to administer flu vaccines to South Australians for the first time.
The move follows a successful trial in Queensland, which saw an additional 11,000 people get vaccinated over a five-month period.
The 2015 flu vaccine should be available South Australians at the end of March.
Under the changes, pharmacists will be able to provide the vaccine to adults over the age of 16 who are not already eligible for a free flu shot as part of the national immunisation program.
People who are eligible for the free vaccine as part of the annual influenza program, including pregnant women, people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions, will still need to visit their GP to receive their free vaccination.
Some pharmacies have been offering flu shots for a number of years, however previously these had to be administered by a registered nurse.
Pharmacists wishing to administer flu vaccines will need to undergo appropriate training to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to both deliver the vaccine and identify and treat any possible side effects.
The pharmacy they work for will also need to be accredited by SA Health and undergo an audit every two years as per pharmacy industry standards.
Last year, there were more than 11,000 notified cases of influenza in South Australia, the highest number of cases on record, surpassing even the swine flu epidemic of 2009.
The higher number of cases saw the emergency departments in Adelaide’s hospitals struggle to meet the demands of patients.
Health Minister Jack Snelling hoped the scheme would see a higher uptake of the vaccination, increasing the wider community’s immunity.
“Having as many people as possible vaccinated against influenza each year will go a long way towards creating a healthier community and helping reduce the additional burden on the health system,” Mr Snelling said.