Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Health if the new legislation proposed by him to allow pharmacists to administer the flu vaccine also makes provision for pharmaceutical assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25356/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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New regulations are being drafted at present which will place beyond doubt the right of registered pharmacists to administer seasonal influenza vaccination to patients.

Prior to the Pharmacy Act 2007 pharmaceutical assistants were permitted to act on behalf of a registered pharmacist during the pharmacist's temporary absence. This legacy entitlement has been continued in the Pharmacy Act 2007 for those persons who were pharmaceutical assistants before commencement of the 2007 Act. In contrast to registered pharmacists, pharmaceutical assistants are not subject to statutory fitness to practice requirements and disciplinary sanctions, and therefore cannot be held personally accountable or restricted from practise for professional misconduct or poor professional performance. In addition, the Act places no legal obligation on pharmaceutical assistants to undertake continuing professional development to ensure that they continue to be competent and fit to be registered. Other health professionals involved in the administration of vaccines to patients, i.e. medical practitioners and nurses, are subject to fitness to practice and disciplinary sanction in the event of professional misconduct.

As a consequence, it is not proposed that the regulations relating to the administration of seasonal flu vaccine will extend to pharmaceutical assistants.