Meet PSA’s new Vaccination Ambassador

After a nationwide search, Melbourne-based community pharmacist Anna Theophilos MPS has been appointed PSA’s inaugural Vaccination Ambassador. And she intends to shake things up.

With bold ideas and proven innovation, Ms Theophilos is set to transform pharmacist-led immunisation across Australia. She will work alongside PSA to elevate the voice of pharmacist immunisers throughout the country, driving public confidence and promoting vaccination.

In the aged care sector, Ms Theophilos has pioneered systems that ensure residents receive timely access to all National Immunisation Program and private vaccines. By introducing streamlined digital systems, she has significantly reduced the administrative burden on staff, making clinics easier to run and more efficient. The digital platform also allows facilities to immediately identify local vaccination gaps, while governing bodies are supported with live coverage data at the click of a button.

Under Ms Theophilos’s initiative, coverage rates within facilities rose from just 30% to an impressive 95%. From innovative outreach clinics to tailored services for children with sensory needs, her work reflects the evolving role of pharmacists in improving immunisation access for priority population groups.

Hosting the vaccination stream at PSA25 next week, Ms Theophilos told Australian Pharmacist why she’s passionate about vaccination and getting the immunisation message out to more Australians.

Tell us about your career in pharmacy so far.

I’ve been a pharmacist for 17 years – 16 of those as a business owner. Over that time, I’ve worn many hats, but what’s stayed constant is my desire to build services that respond meaningfully to the specific needs of my local community. Whether it’s dispensing, health education, or vaccination – I’ve always believed in combining clinical excellence with real, human connection.

How long have you been a pharmacist vaccinator?

I’ve been vaccinating since taking over my current business 3 years ago, and it quickly became a core part of my practice. What started within the four walls of the pharmacy has now expanded into aged care, home-based care, sensory-friendly clinics, and outreach models such as pop-up influenza clinics in schools or home visits for immunocompromised patients.

Why are you passionate about vaccination?

It’s an area where pharmacists can bring clarity, care and real impact. There’s so much noise and misinformation out there, and I believe people deserve to make informed decisions about vaccine-preventable diseases with confidence and trusted guidance. Pharmacists are able to provide not only trusted advice to individuals, but also to advance public health outcomes at scale. As a mum of two primary school-aged children, I also wanted to create an experience for their age group that felt calm, safe, and free of fear. How we approach their vaccination today shapes how they view health care tomorrow.

Have you been administering new vaccinations under the Victorian pharmacy pilots?

Yes! And I’ve really enjoyed being part of it. Administering travel vaccines has been particularly rewarding. It’s opened up conversations with patients who might never have considered vaccination. Like someone popping in for loperamide before a trip to Bali. Being up to date with the latest information has allowed pharmacists to offer truly comprehensive care, ensuring our community stays healthy before and after they board the plane.

What vaccine trends concern you, and how can pharmacists help to address them?

When I began working in aged care, I started collating data and was shocked to discover that only 8% of residents were up to date with all vaccines recommended in the Vaccination for Healthy Ageing – and just 30% with National Immunisation Program vaccinations. If those were childhood immunisation rates, we’d be outraged. So why aren’t we applying that same urgency to our older Australians? Over the past 18 months, it has become apparent that these low rates stem from fragmented care pathways and inconsistent funding – gaps that pharmacists are well-placed to address. I’ve worked tirelessly to understand the barriers and build practical, pharmacist-led pathways to improve access. And it has been successful. We can change this – and I believe we will.

What do you hope to achieve in your role as Vaccination Ambassador?

I want to elevate the role of pharmacists in immunisation – not just as vaccinators, but as system-shapers. I hope to bring attention to the work already happening in this space, advocate for sustainable funding and policy reform, and create momentum around models that reach underserved communities, aged care facilities and high-risk populations.

What are some of your first priorities?

One of my main goals is to help mobilise pharmacists across Australia to see this as part of our core mission – to prioritise it – and to feel just as confident administering a vaccine as they do dispensing a prescription. I also want to support clearer public messaging around vaccine-preventable diseases, and advocate for policy and funding frameworks that unlock our full capacity and skill set.

Where do you see pharmacists evolving in terms of vaccination?

It’s simple: all ages, all vaccines.

I see pharmacists becoming the number one provider of vaccinations in Australia. And not limited by age, setting or scope. We have the workforce, the accessibility and the trust. The opportunity is right in front of us.

What are you planning to share with delegates at PSA25?

That it’s time to take up this role with confidence and intentionality. For too long our scope has been underestimated or constrained. We have been told it’s not our place, that we need permission, or that we’re stepping on toes. But the data around vaccination rates tell a different story. It’s clear something needs to change. That something is us. Our profession. And we’re more than ready. We have the workforce, the access, and the trust of the public. Now is the time to lead.

Learn more about vaccinations from Anna Theophilos and others at PSA25, held in Sydney from 1–3 August. Register here to attend.