Coronavirus vaccine rollout: How to fast-track jabs at vaccination hubs, chemists

Frontline health workers reveal the three key changes needed to speed up the nation’s troubled vaccination program.

Exclusive: Vaccination hubs must be opened after hours, the 4000 pharmacies signed up to administer jabs need to be brought on line now and workplace immunisation needs to begin.

With just 11 per cent of the population fully vaccinated and Covid-19 spreading in Sydney and Melbourne we asked those on the frontline how to speed up our failing vaccination program.

More than 3,900 pharmacies around the nation have been approved to deliver Covid jabs but just over 100 are currently doing so because state and federal governments won’t give them the vaccines.

“At the moment we have a situation where some bureaucracies are in total control of the government’s vaccine rollout – or as it happens, lack of a rollout,” Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey said.

“I make no secret of the fact that the advice coming out of the bureaucracy is inconsistent, nonsensical, and is adding to the confusion which seems to be the hallmark of how the vaccination rollout is being handled,” he said.

While the virus is spreading in Sydney and Melbourne only pharmacies in rural areas are able to provide Covid jabs.

“We need all 3930 community pharmacies that have been approved by the Government to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations,” Mr Twomey said.

Long queues of people are seen at the NSW Vaccination Centre in Homebush. Picture: Getty Images

Opening state vaccination hubs after hours so shift workers can get their jab is another essential ingredient Immunisation Coalition spokesman Professor Robert Booy said.

“It’s a great idea, anything that’s practical and effective and safe, and provided all of those are observed. Even if you had 6am until 10pm, you could cover off on a lot of people and you could come in after the night shift,” he said.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Association (ANMF) says with six in 10 aged care workers still not vaccinated, the Commonwealth must provide vaccination at work or close to work for these employees.

“This must include funding states to deliver onsite vaccination clinics and priority access to nearby clinics and give them guaranteed access to a Pfizer vaccine” Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Annie Butler said.

The Federal Government should also fund special paid leave for aged workers to access vaccination and provide clear, targeted education and information for aged care workers on COVID-19 vaccination, she said.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Karen Price said the government must ensure all frontline health workers had been vaccinated.

Lotteries and other incentives if that created some excitement and fun should also be considered, she said.

The Immunisation Coalition said vaccinating Australians won’t be enough to free us from Covid restrictions, we need to vaccinate people in every country and they are urging people to donate to UNICEF which is funding vaccine rollouts in poorer countries.

Originally published as Coronavirus vaccine rollout: How to fast-track jabs at vaccination hubs, chemists