Emerging international research indicates that a third vaccine dose is critical to providing optimal protection against the Omicron strain
on Wednesday said they had been forced only recently to throw out hundreds of expired Pfizer doses, but were now frantically ordering more stock after the federal government moved to fast-track the booster program.One clinic delayed scheduled booster shots at a local aged care facility amid a tenfold rise in demand that had occurred almost overnight.
Gisborne GP Umair Masood said until the guidelines changed, there was a slow uptake of booster shots.Ripponlea Medical Centre’s practice manager Marcus Gwynne said the phones had been “ringing off the headsets” at his clinic since the booster program was fast-tracked. The clinic has put in an urgent order of 720 doses with the federal government, which she hopes will arrive in about a week, but she admits “there are no guarantees”. The clinic had recently thrown out about 200 expired doses.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victorian chair Anita Munoz said she had received several letters from Victorian GPs who were considering pulling out of the vaccine program because it was not financially viable for them to continue.“They have been left bruised and battered ... the morale and the goodwill among doctors is totally eroding,” she said.
In a further sign the booster program is under pressure, two-thirds of Victorian pharmacists signed up to deliver COVID-19 vaccines were, due to inadequate remuneration from the federal government. General practices were being paid about $10 less to deliver boosters compared to first and second doses — just under $25 and about $66 combined for the first and second doses.
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