Doctors probed over dodgy jab exemptions

A doctor in a western suburbs Covid hotspot is being probed for allegedly dishing out fake vaccination exemptions to people keen to avoid jab mandates.

A doctor in Melbourne’s western suburbs is among those being probed for allegedly providing illegitimate Covid jab exemptions.

Health authorities are ­examining at least one Melbourne doctor amid “significant concerns” that illegitimate Covid vaccination exemptions are being provided.

The Sunday Herald Sun has also been told of an increase in “doctor shopping” in the past week among patients wanting to keep working without ­undergoing mandatory vaccination in certain industries.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has warned the practice could undermine the vaccination rollout and exemption process, with very few patients actually fitting the criteria to be medically exempt from a jab.

Senior health figures have aired concerns about a GP clinic in Melbourne’s west where it is alleged a large number of ­patients seeking exemptions have gathered in recent days.

Authorities were notified when the number of patients became so great there was a line outside the building, following a social media post that claimed a doctor was providing Covid vaccination exemptions.

It is understood the Australian Health Practitioner Agency, the Department of Health and Victoria Police have been notified.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Karen Price says GPs were regularly asked to give patients illegitimate exemptions.

A Health Department spokeswoman said: “The ­Department of Health holds significant concerns that a small number of doctors might be providing exemptions for Covid-19 vaccines to people who do not meet the exemption criteria. We are investigating reports of a GP breaching CHO directions and are actively considering all options, including compliance, enforcement and regulatory avenues.”

RACGP president Karen Price said there was increasing talk among GPs of patients seeking illegitimate exemptions as well as concerns some doctors were providing them.

“What is going to be concerning is if people believe they can get some kind of piece of paper — a signed statutory ­declaration that is a legal document — because they are a conscientious objector,” Dr Price said.

Under the Australian Technical Advisory Group of ­Immunisation’s advice, doctors can apply for medical ­exemptions only in the rare cases a patient has suffered a previous anaphylaxis to a component of the Covid vaccine, or where a person is significantly immunocompromised.

Temporary vaccine medical contraindications can be grounds for people to delay a Covid vaccination if they are suffering a major illness, are immunocompromised due to treatments such as chemotherapy, or are recovering after a severe case of Covid.

A federal Health Department spokesman on Saturday said individuals with a valid medical contraindication to a Covid vaccine could not yet generate verified evidence, such as a Covid-19 Digital ­Certificate.

Melbourne GPs have told the Sunday Herald Sun of ­patients asking for exemption notes they can present to their employers so they can continue working without realising there was a formal, legally binding process to follow.

Prominent Werribee GP Joe Garra said there had been a significant rise in patients seeking exemptions in the past week, as well as a growing ­resistance since jabs were mandated in some professions.

“I’ve had a couple of ­patients I have looked after for 30 years who have come in for exemptions and I have had to refuse,” Dr Garra said.