NSW Covid-19: GPs to launch proactive coronavirus blitz to reach hesitant Australians

Home visits, personal phone calls and messages will be used to get vulnerable Australians vaccinated now there is finally enough supply for a proactive push from GPs.

Home visits, personal phone calls and messages will be used to get vulnerable Australians vaccinated now there is finally enough supply for a proactive push from GPs, the logistics of which doctors warn will “not be easy”.

Under the new rollout ramp up plan, unvaccinated Australians who rarely see a doctor, live in a remote setting, are from non-English speaking backgrounds or unlikely to reach out for medical help will be individually approached by GPs to get a Covid-19 vaccine.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says GPs will be reaching out to vulnerable patients to get vaccinated in the next two months. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Health Minister Greg Hunt said as the country edged toward 70 per cent first-dose coverage, the nationwide push to vaccinate “pockets of disadvantage” would ensure the most vulnerable groups were protected ahead of reopening.

“We want to maximise the coverage and get as many people as possible,” he said.

“In the next two months our GP network will be calling in infrequent visitors, people who are disconnected from the health system … that they have on the books … to get vaccinated.”

With more than 3300 pharmacies coming on board to offer the Moderna vaccine by the end of the month, and additional doses of Pfizer from Singapore and the UK arriving sooner than expected, there will now be enough jabs available for GPs to start singling out vulnerable patients for vaccination.

Australians aged 12 and above are all eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Australian Medical Association vice president Chris Moy says it is important, but won’t be easy to individually contact patients for a vaccine.

Australian Medical Association vice president Chris Moy said the increase in vaccine supply finally meant it was possible to “get on the front foot” and reach out to patients rather than sit there hoping “they will come in”.

“General practices are in a really good position to do that because we have the information on our books, we have links to those patients to try and find them and we also have their trust,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy, or cheap, but we’re ready.

“You’ve got to remember why we became doctors – this is the moment.”

The huge undertaking will have GPs combing through patient lists to find those who have fallen through the cracks, and comes as the number of clinics offering the Pfizer vaccine nationally is due to more than double to 4500 by mid-September.

Vulnerable Australians will be directly invited to go to their GP and get a Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

RACGP president Karen Price says it is important no one is left behind in the vaccine rollout.

Royal Australian College of GPs president Karen Price said doctors were “really excited” to finally have the extra doses, and was sure people “hanging out to get one” will soon.

“There’s also now a big push to make sure no one is left behind,” she said.

Dr Price said GPs would do more home visits and call up at-risk patients to encourage them to come forward for vaccination now the supply was available.

“We’ve got an ethical duty to look after the vulnerable, not just as GPs, but as a nation,” she said.

Dr Price said the vaccine rollout would get “slower” as targets were reached, meaning the more labour intensive methods of reaching those still needing a jab would be required.

Originally published as NSW Covid-19: GPs to launch proactive coronavirus blitz to reach hesitant Australians