Covid NSW: Doctor criticises plan to pull Pfizer vaccine from regions
One south coast GP has criticised the plan to pull the Pfizer vaccine from regional areas saying it puts pregnant women in regional NSW at risk, while others say its an appropriate move.
The South Coast News
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The NSW Government’s decision to divert Pfizer doses to Sydney has been criticised by a south coast GP, while another labelled the move “appropriate”.
On Wednesday, NSW Health announced up to 40,000 doses of the vaccine will be shifted from rural and regional areas to help Year 12 students in southwest and western Sydney return to face-to-face learning on August 16.
NSW Health said while the growing outbreak of the Delta strain in Sydney poses a major threat to regional communities, doses will be sourced from supplies across rural and regional NSW to ensure “no one area is impacted”.
One south coast GP, who did not want to be named for safety reasons, took to social media to say with “very limited” ICU beds in rural areas, an outbreak could lead to worse “mortality outcomes” without the vaccine doses.
“Our rural pregnant patients deserve access to Pfizer, the only vaccine indicated for these women,” they said.
NSW recorded 239 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, and two deaths related to the disease.
“High rates of vaccination will be our road to freedom,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Wednesday.
Bega GP, and last year’s Royal Australian College of General Practitioners General Practitioner of the year, Duncan MacKinnon said the government’s move was “appropriate”.
“It’s great that the country can help out the city,” he said.
“The reality is that we’re all in this together. Now, the greatest need is in the Sydney basin and it’s what we have to do, so we should do it.”
Dr MacKinnon said the move would help protect the families and teachers of the Sydney students, as well as the mental health of HSC students.
“This Delta variant is highly contagious and we will lose control at some point, so our only solution is vaccination,” he said.
He said the outbreak numbers are likely to grow, and cases of the variant will likely be detected on the south coast by the end of the year.
“There are still a large number of people over 60 not vaccinated. The statistics are terrible,” he said.
NSW Health said GPs will continue to supply Pfizer vaccinations in regional NSW, and supplies from the Federal Government will be unaffected by the move.
AstraZeneca remains available from GPs, NSW Health clinics and a growing number of pharmacies, a spokeswoman said.
“NSW Health can assure those in regional NSW who have had a first Pfizer dose they will receive their second dose,” she said.
“Anyone in rural and regional NSW with an existing booking at a NSW Health clinic who has not yet received their first Pfizer dose will be contacted as soon as possible if their booking is going to be impacted.
“People can check to see if they are eligible to receive a vaccine, and if eligible, book an appointment at a clinic, via the Australian Government eligibility checker.”
Resident Melissa Baker said she was “furious” vaccines have been taken from rural NSW.
“It‘s all very well for them to say it will be sorted by the time everyone needs their second dose but I’m not convinced that they will be able to manage that,” she said.
Meanwhile resident Grant Jones supported the move.
“I don‘t have an issue with prioritising vaccines where there are outbreaks if it helps get these lockdowns over sooner,” he said.
Eden-Monaro Labor MP Kristy McBain said regional communities were being treated like “second class citizens”.
“Now is not the time to hit the brakes in the vaccine rollout, we need to be travelling full steam ahead,” she said.
“I am contacted by Eden-Monaro residents every day who are struggling to get vaccinated
“Communities in the Eden-Monaro rely on transient workers and tourists to survive. They’ve been hit hard because of ongoing and repeated border closures and now residents and businesses are being told their health and safety isn’t a priority.
“It’s another blow to communities already struggling.”
The Southern NSW and Illawarra Shoalhaven health districts have been contacted for comment.
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