GPs set to receive more AstraZeneca doses in fast-tracked rollout

The confirmation came from Prime Minister Scott Morrison following the most recent National Cabinet meeting, at which Australia’s political leaders also agreed to prioritise Pfizer for people under 50 in phases 1a and 1b, as well as quarantine workers and those in aged and disability care.
 
Prime Minister Morrison said 1.8 million vaccines have already been administered, with half delivered by GPs, while it was also confirmed that general practices will soon receive an increased supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
 
RACGP President Dr Karen Price welcomed the announcement, saying that it will help general practice remain front and centre of the rollout.
 
‘GPs are perfectly positioned to deliver a safe and effective mass vaccination program, so long as we have adequate vaccine supplies and support,’ she said.
 
‘It was excellent to hear [Department of Health Secretary] Professor Brendan Murphy announce that as part of the recalibration there would be increased supply of AstraZeneca doses to general practice.
 
‘There are GPs living and working in communities right across the country. Patients trust their local GP and naturally want to go to them for their COVID-19 vaccine, just like they do for their annual influenza shot.
 
‘The RACGP is not opposed to mass vaccination hubs, we believe that they will play a vital role. However, GPs are the ones with the right skillset and expertise to talk to patients who are wavering on whether to be vaccinated – it is what we do.’
 
Professor Murphy also clarified that the Pfizer vaccine will not be made available to any people over the age of 50 until later in the year, in an effort to maximise the limited supplies Australia has already received from overseas.
 
‘We [still] recommend AstraZeneca [for this cohort],’ he said.
 
‘The risk–benefit for over 50 is vastly in favour of being vaccinated. But people always have a choice and more Pfizer will be available later in the year.
 
‘We need to ensure, because of this new age split, that … people under 50 who are eligible at the moment, such as aged care workers, disability care workers, those people with underlying chronic medical conditions, emergency service workers and broader healthcare workers from all settings can have access to Pfizer at the state Pfizer clinic.’
 
Dr Price said it is vital that any doses of Pfizer currently available in Australia reach the appropriate people as soon as possible.
 
‘This includes GPs under 50, many of whom themselves are administering the COVID-19 vaccine to patients in their own practices,’ she said.
 
‘Our GPs need a clear plan and clear communication on how they themselves can be vaccinated.’ 
 
The RACGP President had said earlier that the revamped vaccine rollout strategy would put things back on track, following reports of people under 50 eligible for phases 1a and 1b cancelling COVID vaccine appointments due to fears of blood clots.
 
Outside of expediting over-50s’ access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, National Cabinet also resolved to reduce flights from India by 30% in response to the country’s increasingly severe coronavirus outbreak.
 
The nation of 1.36 billion people is currently registering more than 200,000 new COVID cases each day.
 
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AstraZeneca COVID-19 National Cabinet Pfizer vaccine rollout