Lachlan Rose FPS has spent two decades building trust with his local community. Now, he’s bringing life-saving vaccines to aged care.
Tell us about your pharmacy career so far.
I began my career in hospital pharmacy and then pivoted to community pharmacy, where I’ve been a permanent fixture for more than 20 years at Manly Vale Pharmacy.
Throughout my career, I’ve also had a long association with PSA, which has provided many opportunities to contribute to the profession.
What do you enjoy most about community pharmacy?
I love the variety – you never know what or who will walk through the door. Every day is different, and that’s what keeps community pharmacy so interesting. It’s a profession built on relationships, where you have the opportunity to support people at every stage of their healthcare journey and make a meaningful difference in their lives.
What has been the most rewarding part of your career?
For me, building trust with patients over the long term has been the most rewarding part of working in community pharmacy. Pharmacies are relied upon for health advice and assistance by some of the most vulnerable members of the community. It is a privilege to be in a position where you can genuinely make a difference to people’s health and wellbeing.
How long have you been involved in aged care vaccination services?
Our involvement began around 5 years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. We started by providing COVID-19 vaccinations to aged care residents, who are among those most susceptible to severe complications.
Initially, we were helping to fill gaps in service delivery. But as the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) program has expanded over the past 2 years, so too has our role.
We now provide a broad range of National Immunisation Program vaccines, including influenza, shingles, respiratory syncytial virus and pneumococcal vaccines. And our pharmacy delivers the majority of the vaccinations for residents at the aged care facilities we support.
What pharmacy services have made the biggest difference in aged care?
Residential Medication Management Reviews and Quality Use of medicines services have long been the cornerstone of pharmacists’ contribution to aged care. More recently, onsite vaccination services have become increasingly valuable.
Aged care facilities are continually benchmarked on resident immunisation rates, making vaccination an important performance indicator. Pharmacists are well placed to help facilities maintain high vaccination coverage while ensuring residents have timely access to recommended vaccines.
Any advice for pharmacists keen on providing services in aged care?
Start by doing the numbers. I recommend carefully considering the costs involved, the time required and whether the remuneration will make the service sustainable. Proximity to the aged care facility is also an important factor, as it affects travel time for staff and the ability to maintain cold chain for the safe transport of vaccines.
A successful vaccination service needs to be practical, efficient and financially sustainable if it is going to deliver long-term value for the pharmacy and the aged care provider.
