Changes to Queensland's drug therapy protocols will allow pharmacists to offer more services such as prescribing more emergency medications during the coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Steven Miles has announced.
Under the amendments, Mr Miles said pharmacists would be given further provisions for dispensing emergency medications as well as having a wider range to substitute medications.
"So if people can't get to their prescriber, they will be able to access emergency medications," Mr Miles said.
Pharmacists would also be allowed to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine when it was eventually made available.
"That means that communities right across the state, everywhere in the state, will have very quick access to the vaccine when it comes," Mr Miles said.
But Mr Miles said the wait for a vaccine could be "some time".
"Even 12 months would be considered a very ambitious time frame — 18 months is probably more reasonable," he said.
Queensland Pharmacy Guild vice president Chris Owen said the changes were "instrumental" in protecting Queenslanders.
"Especially those at risk — those who are self-isolating at home, those who are over 70, or have a chronic illness, will be able to receive enhanced healthcare access," Mr Owen said.
Meanwhile, another nine cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Queensland overnight, bringing the state's tally to 974.
Of those, 28 people were currently in hospital, with 12 in intensive care units on ventilators.
Mr Miles said the state had seen a "very dramatic decline" in the average number of weekly cases.
"Our seven-day total is 77 … when I spoke last Saturday it was 274 [and] the Saturday before that it had peaked at 380," he said.
"Everything that Queenslanders are doing to defeat COVID-19 is working."
