Aussie GPs refusing to administer AstraZeneca vaccine to under 50s over legal fears

Many Aussie doctors are refusing to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to some patients until the government further clarifies a major detail of the rollout.

Australian doctors have raised concerns about the possible legal implications if a patient falls ill from the AstraZeneca vaccine, with some GPs refusing to administer the jab to people under 50 even if requested.

Last week the COVID-19 vaccine rollout was thrown into chaos when health regulators recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine not be given to people under 50 due to blood clot risks.

The vaccine can be used be used in adults under 50 where the benefits “clearly outweigh the risks” and that person has “made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits”, according to advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

RELATED: PM scraps COVID vaccination deadline

Some Australian GPs are worried about the possible legal implications if a patient falls ill from the AstraZeneca vaccine. Picture: Geoff Caddick/AFP

RELATED: What vaccine fallout means for you

Yesterday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said “no doctor need worry” about legal action resulting from side effects of the AstraZeneca jab, adding there were “vaccine indemnity agreements in place”.

However, Royal College of General Practitioners president Dr Karen Price said GPs want “more clarity” on how they will be protected, telling2GBthat many are still fearful about the possible consequences of administering the vaccine to people under 50.

“This is a degree of fear from some of our colleagues, but I understand it because when you get caught up in legal proceedings it’s a very unpleasant experience,” she said.

Dr Price said Medical Defence Organisations (MDOs) have clearly stated that GPs are covered in the case of legal proceedings, however many doctors are “wanting more clarification from the government”.

She said it ultimately comes back to what insurance risks doctors are prepared to manage in their own clinics.

RELATED: New danger over sluggish vaccine rollout

RACGP President Karen Price said doctors want ‘more clarity’ on how they will be legally protected if they are required to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to a person under 50. Picture: Wayne Taylor/NCA NewsWire

“It’s one of those personal things about how you feel about practising. As doctors we deal with risks all the time. Whenever we prescribe the pill we have a bigger risk of potential clots and those sorts of things,” Dr Price said.

“We are used to having to manage risk whenever we refer someone, whenever we tell someone they can go home and we can see them again tomorrow. We are used to that type of risk and it does create a lot of stress, I have to say.”

Dr Price’s comments follow a report in The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday which claimed many GPs are refusing to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under 50 until the government clarifies the legal liability if patients have a serious adverse reaction.

President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) NSW, Dr Danielle McMullen, said the current guidelines were confusing.

“Certainly in the next few days, quite quickly, we will be trying to get more clarity on making sure: is this a ban or not a ban and what level of exceptional circumstance do you need,” she said.

“Obviously protecting patients is our number one goal, but also making sure that the doctors aren’t putting themselves at risk.”

Dr McMullen advised doctors in NSW not to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone under 50 unless there were exceptional circumstances.

Mr Hunt sought to alleviate these concerns, by assuring that doctors would be protected and that the vaccine was safe to administer as directed.

“These vaccines are safe and effective, and we simply follow the advice on administration of our medical experts. That has kept Australians safe and we will continue to provide those updates,” he said on Sunday.

“We will provide additional advice and additional confidence and additional support to the Australian people. But I know that our medical officials are doing that.”