Community & Business
26 March, 2022
Pharmacists thanked on new national day
PHARMACISTS across Australia have been rewarded for their hard work during a global pandemic with a national day of recognition.
Thank Your Pharmacist Day is a new initiative launched by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) set to be celebrated every year on 17 March.
The new occasion is dedicated to acknowledging the efforts of Australian pharmacists throughout the pandemic, giving them the credit they deserve.
Pharmacists have gone above and beyond over the past two years as they grappled with administering vaccines and a national rapid antigen test shortage.
During the pandemic, pharmacists have been on the front line and highly exposed with thousands of people coming through their doors seeking help and advice.
Priceline Pharmacy Mareeba pharmacist Mark Hope said his workload doubled during the pandemic as he juggled his new duties with vaccines and his usual tasks.
“It was extremely stressful – we had additional work that basically doubled our workload with the same number of hours in the day,” he said.
“We had to explain the vaccinations to people because they were hesitant, we had to process all their data and upload it to the electronic register, we had to give them the vaccine, then we had to monitor them to 15 minutes. We had to fit all that amongst all our scripts and everything else.
Mr Hope said the busiest time during the pandemic was just after Christmas in 2021 after the boosters had been announced as people rushed to get their shot.
“Just after Christmas when the booster was announced was the worse period but it was good so many people were coming in to get their boosters,” he said.
While he is thankful to have a day dedicated to pharmacists, Mr Hope said not to forget everyone else who was on the frontline during the pandemic and still are to this day.
“The whole allied health system has taken this on, it’s not just us,” he said. “Nurses, doctors and others they’ve all helped and all of their staff as well.
“It’s not just us as pharmacists it’s our staff as well who have taken on this burden.”
