News

---

What should GPs do to get ready for the vaccine push?

---

Australian GPs are still waiting on clinical details regarding their role in the COVID vaccine rollout, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s decision on the AstraZeneca vaccine expected in coming days.
 
But while GPs wait for detail on issues such as vaccine storage, administration and management – as well as which practices will be chosen to administer the vaccines ­– other preparations can be made, according to Dr Rob Hosking, Chair of the RACGP’s Expert Committee on Practice Technology and Management (REC–PTM).
 
Dr Hosking gave newsGP a technology to-do list for practices expecting to participate in the COVID vaccine rollout:
 

• Consider updating your listing on the National Health Services Directory, as this will be used to direct patients to participating practices  

• Update your clinical software to the latest version to ensure it incorporates changes required to record data

• If you do not currently own a QR code reader or webcam, consider buying one to speed up data input

• Consider how you will arrange the patient’s second shot, such as by booking a second appointment while the patient is there for their first

 
Dr Hosking told newsGP that GPs could use the time before the rollout begins to get everything ready.
 
Updating directory
The Department of Health had originally planned to develop a national COVID vaccine booking system, but has since reversed that decision following RACGP feedback, Dr Hosking said.
 
‘They don’t want to interfere with existing GP booking systems,’ he said.
 
‘They listened to arguments from us to say, GPs and patients have their own established ways of booking and it varies depending on the patient. Older patients don’t tend to like online booking, while younger [patients] may prefer it.
 
‘It’s important not to create a barrier to vaccination.’
 
The reversion to the status quo – where patients seeking COVID vaccines will approach participating practices directly – means it is time to ensure practice details are up to date on the directory.
 
‘GPs might want to get their entry up to date with the National Health Services Directory. This has been notoriously inaccurate because it hasn’t been updated as things have changed,’ Dr Hosking said. ‘You have to contact them with the [changes].’
 
Updating software
Dr Hosking said that while general practice software vendors have updated their products to accommodate the new vaccines, it is important GPs ensure the updates had been applied to be able to access the changes.   
 
Scanning vaccine data
COVID vaccines will need to be scanned, so the system has a record of which vaccines were administered.
 
But the serial number for these vaccines is expected to be up to 128 characters long, making it unfeasible to manually enter it, according to Dr Hosking. Purchasing a QR reader or webcam and linking them to your computer will be considerably easier.
 
‘These vaccines don’t have the old batch number we’re all used to doing. They will require scanning of the box it comes in,’ Dr Hosking said.
 
Looking forward
GPs will have to decide whether they will use a paper patient consent form – currently being developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation ­– or if they will ask patients whether they understand the information given to them and if they consent verbally, with an electronic record kept.
 
‘We’ve been told that verbal consent will be adequate as long as you have discussed it with patients,’ Dr Hosking said. ‘There are no extra requirements for COVID vaccines compared to flu vaccines.’
 
Log in below to join the conversation. 

---

---

COVID-19 practice technology vaccine

---