The Department of Health has released updated advice and key messages for Phase 1b of the general practice vaccine rollout. This includes Easy Print versions of GP resources that are available on the Department of Health website.
30 June 2021 Department of Health General Practice Vaccine Rollout Update is here
The Primary Care Implementation Group (PCIG) is an online meeting that includes most primary healthcare peak bodies. It is convened weekly by the Department of Health as part of the COVID-19 response. Dr Maria Boulton attends on behalf of the AGPA.
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By the AGPA team
Practices in Australia were inundated with calls last week from people seeking the vaccine as part of the 1b roll-out.
That prompted practices to express concern about communications between practices and the government and funding options.
It has been described as one of the biggest logistical exercises in Australia for decades: the roll-out of the Covid vaccine to the entire Australian adult population in seven months. GP practices will be at the forefront. They must not be taken for granted.
Read moreBy the AGPA web team
General practice registrars are finding it difficult to make ends meet, with nearly a third of them taking second jobs, the General Practice Registrars Australia benchmark survey released this month (March 2021) finds.
The root causes of that are worth exploring. It is far too easy so blame practices for not paying enough.
Read morePhase 1B General Practice Vaccine Rollout. Update – 25 March 2021.
Key messages from Department of Health:
• All Week 2 GP sites have been notified that their details will go live on COVID-19 Vaccine Service Finder today on Thursday 25 March.
• The ATAGI COVID-19 Working Group have now provided advice on pre-drawing AztraZeneca vials into syringes prior to commencing a vaccination session.
• There will shortly be guidance on the use of excess doses (i.e. where doses remain at the end of a session and will expire before the next session) on the Department’s website.
• There are three matters that we would appreciate your assistance in communicating out to practices:
Read moreThe Department of Health has published an updated FAQ document containing some important information for COVID-19 vaccination providers.
Read morePrimary Health Care COVID-19 Response Teleconference 16 March 2021
The Primary Care Implementation Group (PCIG) is an online meeting that includes most primary healthcare peak bodies. It is convened weekly by the Department of Health as part of the COVID-19 response. Dr Maria Boulton attends on behalf of the AGPA.
Read moreAmid concerns over the Covid vaccine roll-out, the Federal Government has mandated that from 1 March, all vaccine providers will be required to report influenza vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and report all other National Immunisation Program vaccinations from 1 July on pain of a $6660 fine for failing to do so.
Comment on the new provisions suggest general support for the need to register, but opposition to the draconian fine for not doing so, with one GP describing the fine as “unbelievable”.
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By the AGPA Web Team
It appears that Australian general practices will face quite a deal of stress, financial and otherwise, in the roll-out of the Covid vaccination program.
Nearly 5000 general practices have applied to take part in what is to be one of the nation’s largest logistical exercise – the vaccination of everyone in the nation over 16 by the end of October.
General practices want to be on the frontline of the roll-out, but many questions remain unanswered.
Read moreFollowing successful representation by the AGPA and other medical lobby groups the Australian Government will provide some consumables for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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