Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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254. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify in respect of SI No. 401 of 2020, which gives permission for pharmacists to administer vaccines outside of a pharmacy premises, if the changes make provision for a pharmacist who is neither a pharmacy owner nor affiliated with any pharmacy to procure independently vaccines from the national cold chain service and subsequently independently make a claim for payment from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. [30406/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 401 of 2020) amend the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 to allow for influenza vaccination to be administered by registered pharmacists in places other than the premises of the retail pharmacy business in which they carry on their professional practice, in order to help address the public health need to increase access to the influenza vaccine.

These amending Regulations (and in particular Regulation 4B of the Medicinal Products Legislation) only entitle a pharmacist to supply and administer vaccinations from a location other than a pharmacy premises when he or she is acting in his/her capacity as a pharmacist in connection with the carrying on of a registered retail pharmacy business.

The supply of medicines and pharmacy services is underpinned by a robust governance framework which is provided for in the Pharmacy Act 2007 and the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008. The 2008 Regulations govern the sourcing, storage, supply and disposal of medicines. They also govern the staffing and reporting arrangements in a pharmacy, and they prescribe the record keeping requirements which apply around the supply of medicines. The pertinent requirements which apply in the Regulations of 2008 will also apply equally in respect of any service that is delivered offsite from the pharmacy to ensure it is safe and appropriate.