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Shortened AstraZeneca vaccine training ‘a victory for common sense’
The update has streamlined the process for answering questions and will allow GPs to skip the introductory module entirely.
GPs will no longer have to complete the entire three-hour training program.
The RACGP had previously opposed the length of the mandatory training developed by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), stating that it took too long and failed to consider GP expertise.
There had also been concerns regarding the format the questions were presented in, but the Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed this process has been streamlined as part of the changes to the training.
RACGP President Dr Karen Price told newsGP the changes, implemented earlier this month, are ‘a victory for common sense’.
‘The college has advocated very strongly for vaccine training that was better-suited to GPs’ unique skillset, so I am pleased the department took our advice on board,’ she said.
‘As I have stated many times, GPs are the nation’s vaccinators. We have a proven track record and are extremely well-placed to deliver this program over the coming weeks and months.
‘Hopefully the reduced training load will allow any GPs yet to complete the modules to do so quickly, so they can focus on what is required to continue protecting our communities against COVID-19.’
Dr Sean Stevens, a member of the RACGP’s COVID Working Group, told newsGP the changes represent a win for general practice, although he would have preferred them to be implemented earlier.
‘We would have liked a series of modules that were more targeted towards general practice, but we do think this is a win for common sense and for college advocacy,’ he said.
‘It’s good for general practice and GPs because we are extremely time poor. This is particularly true as we enter the beginning of the vaccine rollout, which is the largest vaccine program ever to roll out in Australia’s history.
‘To recognise and respect the value of GPs’ time is very important at this critical juncture.’
According to the DoH, the following changes have been made to the training:
- module 1, ‘COVID-19: An Introduction’, is now optional for GPs
- the quiz questions in all modules have been streamlined to account for the inability for participants to be informed of which question is incorrect
- module 3 has been updated to reflect revised Commonwealth policy on phase 1b of the vaccine rollout.
However, it is still mandatory for GPs to complete the remaining core modules and the additional AstraZeneca module prior to administering COVID-19 vaccines.
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