General Topics
The 2021 AGM of the Australian GP Alliance was held on 18 November.
In his report AGPA Chair, Dr John Deery outlined the work that the AGPA had done over the past year lobbying for PPE and consumables for the COVID vaccination program, proposing changes to the program to allow for pragmatic delivery of the program, lobbying for Pfizer delivery via GP and other submissions and public advocacy for GP by the Directors.
On 8 October 2021 the DoH released a framework for work permissions and restrictions framework for workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 in a healthcare setting.
This framework supports safe decision making when determining whether to place work permissions/restrictions, independent of quarantine, on a worker after a COVID-19 exposure in a health care setting in the context of an outbreak and community transmission of COVID-19.
The Framework is here
Over 34 M Vaccine doses have been administered to date.
Over 50% have been administered by General Practice
Department of Health – Primary Health Care COVID-19 Response Teleconference 20 October 2021 – Meeting notes from Dr Maria Boulton
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 more
The Australian General Practice Alliance (AGPA) has made a submission to the Senate Enquiry regarding:
The provision of general practitioner (GP) and related primary health services to outer metropolitan, rural, and regional Australians, with particular reference to:
29.97 M vaccines have been administered at 7 October 2021
16.3 M Vaccines have been administered by Commonwealth supported Primary Health Care, 15.38 M by GP
The full progress report to 8 October is here
ATAGI ADVICE
8 October
Third COVID-19 vaccine as part of primary course for severely immunocompromised individuals
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released a statement recommending a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine as part of the primary course in individuals who are severely immunocompromised.
The ATAGI statement is here