National Pharmacies pharmacist, Kerry Savas, has received the 2025 World Pharmacist Day Excellence Award for his frontline work in immunising more than 1,500 South Australians against influenza and other serious diseases.
Mr Savas (pictured), who is Principal Pharmacist at National Pharmacies Glenelg, was among three recipients recognised with awards by South Australian Health and Wellbeing Minister, Chris Picton, yesterday during World Pharmacists Day, under the theme ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’.
The new awards, introduced by the Office of the Chief Pharmacist, celebrate pharmacists’ vital role in patient care, community health and the broader SA health system following the rollout of expanded pharmacy services such as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) consultations and travel vaccinations.
With 35 years of experience, Mr Savas led a successful travel vaccine service pilot for National Pharmacies earlier this year, now rolled out across more than 12 stores in SA and Victoria.
In addition to providing more than 1,500 vaccines in the last 12 months, Mr Savas reviewed patients’ immunisation records to close protection gaps, co-administering or scheduling essential vaccines including influenza, COVID, RSV, pneumococcal and shingles.
National Pharmacies CEO, Mark Smith, congratulated Mr Savas, saying, “Our pharmacists, like Mr Savas, are community health experts who use an evidence-based approach which not only boosts individual and community health and wellbeing, but also helps ease pressure on busy GPs and hospitals.”
He also thanked the State Government for its continuing expansion of pharmacists’ scope of practice, which has made services like travel vaccination more accessible, convenient and efficient for more South Australians.
National Pharmacies Chief Pharmacist, Bec Rogers said Mr Savas’ work had supported public safety at national borders.
“Kerry’s professional advice and travel vaccination services reduce the risk of disease importation – protecting Australians at home,” Ms Rogers said.
Mr Savas said he was honoured to receive the award.
“Pharmacists do far more than dispense medicine. In community pharmacy, we prioritise the health of every patient and the wider community,” he said.
Under recent expanded scope of practice measures in South Australia, National Pharmacies has administered 35,727 vaccines including influenza, COVID and travel vaccines and provided 1,158 UTI and OCP consultations in the last year.
