Tara Murray and Goya Dmytryshchak
Some local GPs are among those who will be part of the GP clinic roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine starting this week.
More than 1000 practices across the country will join the COVID-19 vaccination program further strengthening the commonwealth’s capacity, and ensuring an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country.
The local clinics to start rolling out the vaccine are, Tullamarine Complete Health Centre, Calder Medical Clinic in Keilor, St Albans Family Doctors Clinic, Medical One Sydenham, Hume Medical Centre in Sunshine, Braybrook’s Western Family Practice, Kings Medical Centre Kings Park and Cairnlea Superclinic.
The number of practices delivering the vaccine is expected to be more than 4,000 by the end of next month.
The roll out of the new locations comes as those who are in the next stage of the roll out commence starting getting vaccinations.
Among those in the next stage are those who are 70 or over.
Some western suburbs doctors though have opted out over fears about possible AstraZeneca side effects and other concerns.
A pharmacist who spoke on condition of anonymity said several GPs at large medical centres had advised him they did not want to administer vaccines and would send patients to him when he was able to start vaccinating.
“I’ve spoken with some of the local GPs,” the pharmacist told Star Weekly.
“Two of the local GP clinics have already opted out, not doing it, and they were saying, if you are doing it we’re quite happy to send our patients to you to do them.”
Altona North GP and Australian Medical Association state council chairman, Mukesh Haikerwal, said he was aware of doctors not administering the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines for a variety of reasons.
“Out of 8600 practices around the country, only 4600 have been chosen so far to provide vaccines,” he said.
“Many have said they’re not going to do it, not because of any other reason but it’s not financial.
“It’s not a thing to be doing for just 50 vaccines – it’s hardly worth going through the enormous amount of bureaucracy to be part of the process and the compliance and the record-keeping and the logging and giving people the thermometer readings … all sorts of ridiculous amounts of compliance.
“There is anxiety about giving the vaccine because it’s a scary disease.
“I think that’s something people need to get over.”
