News
COVID-19 Vaccine June update
- All currently participating general practices will be provided with the opportunity to administer the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine by October 2021. Some practices will be invited to begin administering the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine from July 2021 in areas of need and for priority populations, based on vaccine supply. For further information, please refer to the Australian Government COVID-19 Vaccination Expression of Interest, to participate in the future primary care COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine program.
- On 24 May 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved an application from Pfizer Australia to change the approved storage period of unopened thawed vials at 2˚C - 8˚C at the point of use for up to 31 days.
- On 2 June 2021, ATAGI updated the COVID-19 vaccination consent form, see this link: Consent form.
- It has now been advised by ATAGI, that the recommended minimum interval between COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines (including influenza vaccine) is now seven days. For more detailed information, please click here.
- It is evident that General Practitioners are continuing to play an essential part in the COVID-19 Vaccination rollout. As of 3 June 2021, over 4.6 million vaccinations have been administered across Australia, with more than 2.5 million vaccines being administered via primary care.
- On the weekend of the 5-6 June, Queensland Health delivered just over 17,000 vaccines. This brings the overall number of administered vaccines in Queensland to exceed half a million.
- On 7 June 2021, the Minister for Regional Health announced that the Australian Government is partnering with the QLD Community Pharmacy Network, in support of the regional roll-out of vaccines, with 49 pharmacies commencing vaccinations this week.
- ATAGI has decided that 60 is a more appropriate age cut off given the balance of risk equation. This means that the eligibility for the COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine will be extended to 40 to 49 year old group. Those that have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be worried, and should still have their second dose as recommended. More information
- Due to the recent updates regarding the Pfizer vaccine, approximately 1,300 GPs will be brought into the Pfizer rollout commencing from the 3 July, receiving between 150 and 300 doses per week. This will begin with an initial 500 practices commencing on 3 July, and with 1300 practices by 19 July. By the end of September, approximately 4400 GPs will be involved in the Pfizer rollout.
- The Australian Government has just declared an extra MBS item for COVID vaccine assessments. This MBS item is immediately available, and is to be used for an in depth patient assessment that will be equivalent to a level B MBS consultation item. This MBS item must be bulk billed in the same way as the current COVID-19 vaccine assessment items. The Department of Health has advised that the new item number for GPs will be 10660 and 10661 for other medical practitioners. We have said the New COVID consultation Medicare numbers are welcome, but misguided - read more.