Hunt denies website ‘chaos’, confirms more than 100 Commonwealth facilities will administer vaccine

More than 100 Commonwealth facilities will administer COVID-19 vaccines to ‘all comers’ after criticism of the government’s online booking system.

Another 100 Commonwealth clinics will administer COVID-19 vaccines to ease the pressure on GPs, as the health minister rejected claims the government had botched the introduction of its online booking system.

Doctors surgeries were inundated with calls on Wednesday following the launch of the government’s online booking system, with people advised to book online or call their local practice.

Some GPs claimed they were blindsided by the site going live, while others were unable to take bookings as they had not yet received sufficient doses.

Health Minister Greg Hunt moved to alleviate pressure on clinics on Thursday, announcing extra Commonwealth support during the rollout’s early phases.

The health minister confirmed another 100 Commonwealth facilities would administer COVID-19 vaccines to ease the pressure on GPs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“We’re announcing over 100 Commonwealth vaccination clinics that will take all comers,” he told ABC radio on Thursday.

“Some (GPs) are much smaller and will choose from within their own patients first, and some will expand to others.

“But the Commonwealth vaccination clinics that are coming online today will take all patients. With over 100 around the country, that’s a very important addition.”

Mr Hunt said the Commonwealth clinics would be provided “up to and on average close to” 1000 vaccine doses per week, and they would begin accepting bookings on Friday.

He said the government had flagged the measure on Sunday, insisting an initial surge in demand was always likely.

The Commonwealth facilities will ‘take all comers’, Mr Hunt said. Picture: Pascal Guyot/AFP

Mr Hunt rejected the suggestion clinics deserved an apology, saying they “deserve our thanks”.

“Every clinic that was listed had actually placed their orders and so I want to thank them for that, (and) thank the public for being aware,” he said.

He said 243,000 people had checked their eligibility on Wednesday, and advice showed 98 per cent were successfully connected with their GP.

The government released a list of about 1000 GP clinics that would administer vaccines under Phase 1B of its rollout plan from Monday.

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek said Wednesday was marred by “chaos”.

“It has been very difficult for people trying to get vaccinated … it’s not the fault of the GP clinic staff that this is poorly organised,” she told Today.

Mr Hunt said more than 240,000 people were likely to have been vaccinated across Australia by the end of Thursday.

Originally published as Hunt denies website ‘chaos’, confirms more than 100 Commonwealth facilities will administer vaccine