’Waste of resources’: GP slams decision to offer Pfizer to over-60s at short notice
A prominent Queensland doctor has called the decision to offer Pfizer to people over 60 an “absolute disaster”, claiming it doesn’t solve the low vaccination rates in his area.
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A prominent doctor in Brisbane’s north has slammed the decision for people over 60 to be able to receive the Pfizer vaccine saying he may as well ‘water the garden’ with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Director of the Health Hub Doctors Morayfield, Dr Evan Jones, said he receives 1480 doses of Pfizer a week, but could jab up to 28,000.
The Queensland Government made the over-60s decision ahead of this weekends super Pfizer vaccine blitz, pleasing many over 60s who were holding out for the Pfizer vaccine.
Premier Annastascia Palazsczuk said Queensland received 189,400 doses on Monday and want to “use the lot.”
“They said to me loud and clear they want to have a choice,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Well I say let’s give it to them.
“We’re able to now do this because the supply is coming in.”
But Dr Jones said his stash of AstraZeneca will go to waste as his team were flooded with vaccine inquiries after the decision was made.
“It’s an enormous waste of vaccine and of health resources, it is an absolute disaster, the Caboolture area is one of the lowest vaccinated areas and I can’t do anything about it,” he said.
“It is absolutely irresponsible for these announcements to be made without any warning or consultation with people who have to deliver the vaccine.”
Dr Evans said the Health centre has around 140,000 registered patients, he said he trained staff and prepared for the “Pfizer Sprint” but simply doesn’t have enough to keep up.
“It doesn’t solve anything because the same Pfizer could have been used for under 60s and quite safely continued.”
“We need to take the politicians and politics out of the system and like every other vaccine program in the past, this should be run by health professionals.”
It comes as the state government announced a “Super Pfizer Weekend”, with people aged 12 and up able to walk-in to a vaccination hub to get their jab.
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