Dr Nick Coatsworth’s Omicron fury

One of Australia’s most well known doctors has hit back at some medical commentators saying they are “increasing fear” over Omicron.

One of Australia’s most notable doctors and the country’s former deputy chief medical officer has furiously hit back at some medical commenters, branding them as “irresponsible” and “increasing fear among the Australian population” around Omicron.

Speaking on ABC News on Thursday evening, Dr Nick Coatsworth also strenuously denied that he said Australia should let Covid-19 “rip”.

The infectious diseases specialist, who was the face of the federal government’s vaccine program, said that he wasn’t unduly alarmed by surging numbers of cases in Victoria and New South Wales.

“Certainly, those numbers would have been shocking in 2020 when we had no vaccines and no treatment.

“Now in 2021 we have emerging evidence that this is a milder variant and I don’t think those numbers are of as great a concern as we would be led to believe.”

He said “of course” there should be concerns about Omicron but “the answer is not snap lockdowns, the answer is not increased restrictions for COVID-19. The answer is a booster blitz”.

Dr Nick Coatsworth was deputy chief medial officer during the height of the pandemic. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Dr Coatsworth said there should be less focus on cases numbers and more on hospitalisation rates.

“We’ve been held back by some medical commentators who insist on focusing on case numbers.

“It’s disappointing they’ve been unable to move forward.

“We need to be leaders of the community; we need to bring our community forward without fear, and with as much fact and evidence as we possibly can.

“That means we do need to focus on hospitalisations and getting ourselves boosted and then the most modest restrictions we can possibly have to live our lives as freely as we can.”

The AMA has said Australia’s booster program is “falling behind”. Not everyone agrees. Picture: Joseph Prezioso / AFP

The Australian Medical Association (AMA), the peak body representing doctors, said on Thursday that the booster rollout was “falling behind”.

Talking to ABC Breakfast Thursday morning, AMA Vice President Chris Moy said Australian GPs needed more funding to be able to distribute booster shots.

“We’re very concerned that we are facing a perfect storm where we may be going backwards in our vaccination efforts.”

Dr Moy was asked to comment on a tweet Dr Coatsworth had sent in response to the AMA’s claims that the booster program was in danger. In the post the former deputy CMO branded the AMA the “peanut gallery association” which had “decided we’re behind again”.

Dr Moy said he was concerned dhow many people would end up in hospital.

“I mean … Nick has said, for example, that we should just let it rip and get everybody infected. But what do we know about Omicron at the moment?” Dr Moy said.

Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth was speaking on the ABC tonight.

On the ABC later in the day, Dr Coatsworth was in turn asked to comment on Dr Moy’s suggestion he believed in letting Covid “rip”

“I never said we should let Covid-19 rip,” Dr Coatsworth replied.

“That’s a very easy thing to say in response to my comment which reflected on the AMA’s expressed concern that the government wasn’t doing enough for the booster program.

“We are four weeks into the Omicron variant. To suggest that we are in any way behind on the booster program is in my view an irresponsible contribution to increasing fear among the Australian population.

“The AMA can do a lot better than that. It should consider itself more responsible in its commentary and act like true partners in this battle, rather than political opportunists,” Dr Coatsworth said.

In August, in a tweet Dr Coatsworth said restrictions had “negative effects” but he added he wasn’t advocating to “let it rip”.

News.com.au has contacted the AMA for comment.

AMA Vice President Dr Chris Moy has said the booster program is vulnerable in Australia. Picture: Gabriel Polychronis

Dr Coatsworth also said Australian governments should pause when contemplating further restrictions such as lockdowns.

“We have done as much as the public will tolerate now in terms of significant restrictions on their ability to live a full and free life.

“And in the face of a variant that’s milder but more infectious, we can’t go on with a suggestion that we’re going to have snap lockdowns.

“Obviously if people are concerned, then they are free to be concerned, and they are free to take extra measures if that’s what they want to do.”