An Act[1]was amended to include new operations that could be performed by pharmacists working in public pharmacies. This Act specified the strict conditions and circumstances under which these acts could be performed, including following training.
Since then, pharmacists have been authorised to prescribe and administer a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the vaccine may only be prescribed if it is administered immediately in the pharmacy. In addition, pharmacists are also authorised to prescribe adrenaline and to administer it subcutaneously or intramuscularly in case a patient should suffer an anaphylactic shock after administration of the vaccine.
Furthermore, since mid July 2021, pharmacists are temporarily authorised to take samples for a rapid antigen test and to communicate the results of this test to the competent body. This applies only for people from the age of 6 who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and who need a COVID-19 certificate for travel or an event. Since 1 November 2021, pharmacists can also carry out tests for travellers returning from a red zone and for people with COVID-19 symptoms. Pharmaceuticaltechnical assistants may also carry out these acts under the responsibility and supervision of a pharmacist.
The graph below shows the number of tests taken by pharmacists. Here, increased activity can be observed from November 2021 to early February 2022.
NUMBER OF TESTS TAKEN AT PHARMACISTS
[1]Consolidated Act of 10 May 2015 on the exercise of healthcare professions