An unlikely partnership has been formed in an attempt to raise low regional COVID vaccination rates.
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The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Pharmacy Guild have teamed up to encourage businesses and pharmacies in more remote areas across Tasmania to get vaccinated.
TCCI chairman Michael Bailey stopped short of calling for mandatory vaccines and said "everyone has the right to do what they want with their body".
Instead, he said the partnership allowed for businesses and community members to make that choice, and have the ability to "safely and quickly" access a vaccination.
The plan coincided with pharmacies in the state being able to offer the Moderna vaccine, and Pharmacy Guild's Tasmania branch president Helen O'Byrne said she expected vaccination rates to rise instantly.
"With the Moderna vaccines becoming available today it was a great time to launch the partnership," she said.
She hoped awareness of the partnership would see employers and employees book vaccinations with local pharmacies.
The technology provided by pharmacies would have the capacity to look at Medicare details and access any prior immunisation information.
Recent data showed the Dorset local government area had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the North of Tasmania, and Ms O'Byrne said she hoped the rollout would see that number increase.
She said just one pharmacy in the North-East, at Scottsdale, was capable of delivering the vaccine, but was working with other pharmacies to discuss expanding that capability.
Similarly, the Kentish LGA held the mantle for the lowest double-dose vaccination rate in the state and was home to just one pharmacy.
Ms O'Byrne said throughout most of the vaccination rollout pharmacies had been "expected to step up to the task" independently, but called for support to get into more remote areas.
"There may be some need to ask for a few more resources, and whether that comes through the guild or the government that's something that needs to be negotiated," she said.
A state Health Department spokesperson said first dose Pfizer clinics would be run in Burnie, Ulverstone, Devonport and Launceston in the next six weeks, with further clinics set to be announced down the track.
More information about state run vaccination clinics can be found at: coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/Book-your-vaccine/community-clinics.
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