03 April 2024
We would like to invite you to apply for a grant opportunity available to vaccinating community pharmacies in the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) region, Local Government areas within the catchment outlined below.
- Banyule
- Boroondara
- Knox
- Manningham
- Maroondah
- Mitchell
- Monash
- Murrindindi
- Nillumbik
- Whitehorse
- Whittlesea
- Yarra Ranges
EMPHN is providing funding to support vaccinating community pharmacies to participate in proactive engagement and activities that promote uptake of COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations over a 6-month period.
As part of the VVP program, EMPHN is looking to appoint a COVID-19 pharmacy vaccination ‘hub’ in each LGA in the EMPHN catchment, totaling 12 hubs.
The purpose of the program is to support community pharmacies (who are delivering COVID-19 vaccinations or have an established referral pathway for vaccinations) through funding and resources to engage with individuals from vulnerable groups. Successful grant recipients will receive $10,000 to conduct a 6-month intervention to establish a Community Pharmacy Vaccination Hub which aims to:
- increase access to COVID-19 vaccines for vulnerable populations
- provide support to vulnerable peoples to receive COVID-19 vaccinations including facilitating tailored approaches
- develop and implement innovative COVID-19 vaccination activities to assist vulnerable individuals to enable easier access to COVID-19 vaccinations in their local area.
Key vulnerable populations have been identified as priority cohorts for this program. They include (but are not limited to):
- those who are experiencing homelessness, including those living on the streets, in emergency accommodation, boarding houses or between temporary shelters;
- those who do not have a Medicare card or are not eligible for Medicare;
- people with a disability;
- people are frail and cannot leave home;
- First Nations Peoples;
- culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse people, especially asylum seekers and refugees and those in older age groups who may find it difficult to use other vaccination services;
- children aged 5-11 who have complex needs, who are not captured by another suitable vaccination channel;
- homebound individuals [1];
- people living in Residential Aged Care and;
- any other vulnerable groups identified as requiring dedicated support to access vaccinations.
Grant opened 3 April 2024 
Grant closes 2pm 17 April 2024
[1] 2024 updated guidelines on homebound individuals
In Scope:
- people with an injury, chronic health issue, or frailty affecting mobility;
- people with moderate to severe physical or psychosocial disability (this could include people with a social anxiety that cannot leave their home);
- people with moderate to severe mental health or behavioral issues not otherwise classified as a psychosocial disability; and
- Person resides in single in-dwelling setting and is confined to the home (not residential aged care facility or residential disability facility).
Out of Scope:
- In-home vaccinations will only be provided where an individual is unable to attend a vaccine provider. There must be a genuine need, not just convenience.
