Computer glitch in Covid vaccine booking system at Maroondah Hospital
A COVID-19 vaccine site reserved for frontline workers only has been hit with a computer glitch in its booking system.
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A computer glitch in a vaccine booking system sent the general public to a site reserved for frontline workers.
People in Melbourne’s east were sent to the vaccine site, with workers challenging them about how they had booked when they were not doctors, nurses or paramedics.
A member of the public, who asked not to be named, said they were stunned at the bungle.
They were questioned when they arrived at the Maroondah Hospital staff vaccine clinic, but after explaining how they booked, were able to get a Pfizer jab.
Eastern Health, which oversees the hospital in Ringwood East, confirmed the error but said no frontline workers missed out on a jab because of the booking problem.
The vaccine site had been offering expanded services from this week, with all health care workers allowed to get a Pfizer jab.
“All Eastern Health staff (Phase 1a & 1b) are now eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccination, regardless of age, in a change made to advice for Health Care Workers late last week,” a note on the Eastern Health website dated July 12 stated.
“A few key points to note: If you have already received your first dose of AstraZeneca, you must also receive AstraZeneca for your second dose.”
The vaccination rollout has been slow in Australia, even for priority healthcare workers.
A change of advice to recommend the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to only those over 60 reduced the amount of jabs available for distribution.
The change was made because of rare blood clot side effects, however people 59 and under are now being advised to speak with their doctor if they wish to get that jab.
Australia has had problems accessing the Pfizer vaccine, with a shortage meaning not all health workers have been vaccinated.
As many as two thirds of aged care workers remain unvaccinated, according to reports last month.
There have been more than 9.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Australia, according to the Australian Government’s health.gov.au tracker.
The Federal Government had signed a deal for 40 million Pfizer doses to be delivered this year.
That supply should reach 1 million doses per week from Monday, July 19, but the overall number to be delivered in 2021 has not changed.
Eastern Health said in a statement that the booking problem had been fixed.
“No frontline workers have missed out on COVID-19 vaccination as a result of this glitch,” the statement said.
“Only a handful of the general public have been incorrectly sent to the Maroondah Hospital Staff Vaccination clinic.
“This administrative error was quickly identified and has been corrected.”
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Originally published as Computer glitch in Covid vaccine booking system at Maroondah Hospital
Read related topics:COVID-19 Vaccine
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