Covid vaccines already in short supply on the Gold Coast for children aged 5 to 11, with GPs saying it’s ‘deja vu’
Covid-19 vaccines for children already in short supply on the Gold Coast, with one clinic already out of doses. WHERE TO GET CHILDREN VACCINATED
Gold Coast
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Covid vaccines for children aged 5-11 across the Gold Coast are already in short supply, with one respiratory clinic giving out the 200 it received in just one day.
On January 10, free Pfizer vaccines became available for children, at an interval of eight weeks apart. Each jab will contain 10 micrograms of the Covid vaccine, one third of the dose given to those aged 12 and older.
To avoid mix-ups, the vaccine in 5 to 11-year-olds will be dispensed from vials with orange caps, instead of the purple or grey used in other age groups.
Federal health Minister Greg Hunt said there would eventually be 8000 vaccination points across the country, but each would be given a limited number of doses daily.
To find a booking visit this link.
Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic owner Dr Sonu Haikerwal said she was only given 200 doses and had administered them all on January 10.
“It’s tragic we don’t have any more, I’ve written to the Queensland and Commonwealth governments begging for more,” she said.
“But it’s the same old same old, the politicians make an announcement that the paediatric vaccine is available and for parents to go out and get it, but we just don’t have the supply of it yet. It’s disappointing.
“I have got people phoning and asked for vaccines for their children, but it’s deja vu, we just don’t have the supply.
“Announcements are made but we’re lagging at the coalface and it’s frustrating because we can’t deliver what politicians are promising.”
Dr Haikerwal said she had tested 1500 people for Covid in five days, with one in two people testing positive. “It’s everywhere”.
Rapid antigen tests are also in short supply, with Dr Haikerwal having to ring her pharmacy to get one for a staff member.
“We haven’t got any RAT tests and we’re a Covid testing clinic. We don’t even know when we are going to get them for our staff which is ridiculous as services will fall apart if health workers in the primary sector get sick,” she said.
Gold Coast Primary Health Network’s Dr Lisa Beecham said GPs practices and pharmacies would open bookings for children once doses were received, but this was likely to be a few weeks away.
“Multiple GPs will have it, as will the Broadbeach Vaccination Hub, and pop-up clinics, but it’s not readily available for everyone right now,” she said.
She said supplies of RAT were also in the pipeline but that it could take some time for them to filter out into the Gold Coast community.
“Everyone needs to be patient and keep social distancing, meet up with people outside and keep a 1.5m distance, and don’t forget to treat your mask as if it’s contaminated and change it frequency,” she said.
“As we move into the peak of the outbreak, everyone must remember to not hug or kiss anyone, and encourage children of all ages to wear masks and presume everyone you have contact with has Covid.”
Dr Beecham said parents should do their research online, using trusted sources such as government sites if they had any questions as GPs were only given five minute timeslots to give children a vaccine.
Websites recommended include mvec.mcri.edu.au, health.gov.au, childrens.health.qld.gov.au, gps-can.com.au.
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