Adelaide GP offices flooded with concerns over COVID vaccine

GP clinics are being flooded with queries about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in light of new advice.

GP clinics are being inundated with phone inquiries about the new COVID advice and some patients are cancelling — but the strong advice is “don’t cancel, talk to your GP.”

One angry GP took to social media to blast the federal government for having his reception staff overwhelmed with calls then copping abuse from people waiting on hold for ages.

Campbelltown GP Dr Alvin Chua threatened to pull out of the vaccine rollout as a result.

“Our phone lines have already been inundated and staff copping abuse,” he wrote.

“All unfounded whilst #justaGP wears all risks! We’re about to ditch this Covax rollout as our goodwill is being exhausted.”

Other clinics reported a rise in phone inquiries from people booked in for the vaccine but few cancellations.

Dr Daniel Byrne of Chandlers Hill Surgery said the clinic had seen two patients aged over 70 cancel — but three of clinic health workers aged under 50 still went ahead with the AstraZeneca vaccine after weighing up their individual risk profiles.

“Don’t cancel, just talk to your GP about it,” Dr Byrne said.

“Fortunately we essentially don’t have COVID here now but the big danger is if it leaks out and gets into the community. For older people there is a real risk of dying from it, so you should get vaccinated.”

Royal Australian College of GPs SA spokeswoman Dr Amy Moten, a GP at Walkerville Prohealthcare, urged people to book an appointment or phone consultation with their GP if they have concerns.

Her clinic has had a surge of inquiries and a “handful” of cancellations but most people have been reassured, she said.

“We have been trying to reassure them that the vaccine seems to be safe for people over 50 and the benefits outweigh the risk,” she said.

“Talk to your GP — especially if you are older or immunosuppressed they can talk you through the benefits and the risks should COVID get into the community.”

Dr Moten, who is “under 50”, has had her first AstraZeneca shot and has no qualms about having the second dose.

SA Health says both Pfizer and AstraZeneca are being given to health workers, but did not have a breakdown on how many workers aged under 50 had been given AstraZeneca.

Premier Steven Marshall and chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier, pictured, said it was “very important” people kept being vaccinated, despite Pfizer jabs being prioritised for people under 50.

They said AstraZeneca was “safe and effective” but both refused to say if the new warning would delay a Christmas target of having every person in SA offered a vaccine.

Mr Marshall said people should listen to the experts but that changes would “take some time”. “We’ve been thrown this curve ball … but I have every confidence we’ll be able to work together to recalibrate that vaccination plan,” he said.

New SA Health figures show there are 19,753 Pfizer vaccines in stock, along with 26,280 AstraZeneca vials, as the state awaits federal advice on more deliveries.

As of Friday, 34,707 people in the state had been vaccinated. SA Health chiefs held crisis talks on the federal rules but 12 vaccine clinics remained open.

A key clinic tender is under review and plans to open a mass hub at the Adelaide Showground by the end of the month are in doubt.

Meanwhile the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation is demanding that frontline health workers be given the Pfizer vaccine.

Federation state secretary Elizabeth Dabars said frontline health workers aged under 50 should be given the Pfizer vaccine in light of the latest advice.

She also noted that not all workers who were eligible had been given any vaccine.

“We have been made aware by members that only pockets of frontline eligible 1a

Phase workers are being offered the Pfizer vaccination,” Ms Dabars said.

“While we appreciate that the Royal Adelaide Hospital was the first identified Pfizer hub in the state, members that are at equally high risk and were promised the Pfizer vaccination are questioning why they are being disadvantaged.”

Dr Caroline Phegan, the first Australian to be given the AstraZeneca jab, supports the vaccine rollout. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dean Martin

The woman who had the first AstraZeneca shot in Australia says she has no regrets – even though she is under 50.

Adelaide Hills-based GP Dr Caroline Phegan, 48, who was given the jab at Murray Bridge Hospital on March 5, said she strongly supported the vaccine rollout – but with a sensible note of caution.

The Federal Government is now recommending that Pfizer is the “preferred” vaccine for anyone under the age of 50.

As well as being under 50, Dr Phegan, who is the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network’s executive director of medical services, has the auto-immune disorder psoriatic arthritis.

But she said she was pleased she had the Astra-Zeneca shot – and urged people to talk to their GP about receiving a vaccine.

Under the new advice, Australians under 50 can still choose to have the Astra-Zeneca dose.

Dr Phegan urged South Australians to have a conversation with their GP when it was their time for a vaccination and make a decision based on their risk.

“Anyone having the AstraZeneca needs to have that conversation with their GP about their individual situation,” said Dr Phegan, who is also an emergency department consultant.

“Obviously, there are reasons why the Federal Government has made this decision and it is in line with other countries.

“It is reassuring to hear from the government that those who received the first dose of the vaccine are OK to have the second dose.”

Dr Phegan said the threat of COVID-19 was still “very real”, despite the fact that SA only had 10 active cases in medi-hotels.

“The response to it in Australia has been world class and successful but there is still a real threat,” she said.

“I would still recommend getting vaccinated – but have that conversation with you GP if you are in that age group about your individual risk.”