Australian pharmacists could leverage their role administering COVID-19 vaccines to win prescribing rights, a UK pharmacy expert has argued.

The “silver lining” of the pandemic is greater recognition of “how effective pharmacists can be”, says Dr Graham Stretch (PhD), president of UK Primary Care Pharmacy Association.

Two years ago, the Pharmacy Board of Australia investigated various models of pharmacy prescribing, concluding there were no regulatory barriers if it was done under supervision or via structured prescribing arrangements (see box).

During a webinar held last week, Dr Stretch said the perceptions of GPs in the UK were changing as a result of the “good job” being done by pharmacist-led COVID-19 vaccination hubs in local halls and community centres.