Covid-19-Polynesia: Pharmacists will be able to sell self-tests and administer the vaccine

The Cabinet Decision of October 7, 2020 specified the use of viral rapid screening tests for the COVID-19 virus. Given the current epidemiological context and the accelerating increase in the number of patients infected with covid-19, it is necessary to adapt the screening strategy in order to break the chains of contamination. On the other hand, it has been observed that some patients who show symptoms are hesitant and do not take a screening test. On the other hand, all health actors must be mobilized to ensure the availability of antigen tests for rapid detection of SARS-Cov-2 by self-sampling of the entire population (“self-tests”). In fact, human resources in the country’s health structures are particularly focused on patient care and the vaccination campaign.

Therefore, it is necessary to open a college to distribute pharmacists to sell “self-tests”. In addition, other health professionals can distribute these tests to their patients and those around them if they see fit. Healthcare professionals should advise necessary for proper performance and disposal of the test after use and actions to be taken depending on the outcome. So an article was added in the decree issued on October 7, 2020 to incorporate these new provisions.

The Cabinet Decision of December 29, 2020 also regulates the methods of implementing the vaccination campaign against COVID-19, especially with professionals who can carry out the vaccination. Doctors, midwives and nurses have so far been the only health professionals who have been cited to be able to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, particularly for pre-vaccination counseling and administering the vaccine.

After a few weeks of practicing this vaccination, and given the latest information about this vaccination, it was decided to extend the possibility of conducting a pre-vaccination consultation to pharmacists and then to administer the vaccine to people who come to the clinic – vaccinate according to the medical vaccination protocol established by the Department of Health. The Council of the Syndicate of Pharmacists in French Polynesia supports this development. Therefore, two articles of the decree issued on December 20, 2020 have been amended to incorporate these new provisions.