Health organisations show big interest in delivering COVID-19 vaccine as part of NT-wide rollout

HEALTH organisations are eagerly waiting to hear if they will be part of delivering the COVID-19 vaccine in the Northern Territory

• Urgent laws to make COVID-19 vaccine rollout easier to be introduced in NT

• Territorians to start receiving COVID-19 vaccine by next week, Chief Minister Michael Gunner announces

• NT pharmacies and health organisations gear up to provide COVID-19 vaccination

NT health organisations are eagerly waiting to hear if they will be part of delivering the COVID-19 vaccine after initial details of its rollout were revealed this week.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced on Monday that while Phase 1a of the rollout – which will focus on the most at-risk frontline workers and vulnerable Territorians – will be primarily delivered at hospital hubs in Darwin and Alice Springs, Phase 1b onwards will see other health organisations recruited to administer the vaccine in the wider community.

MORE HEALTH NEWS

Smiles all around as Territorians released from quarantine after hot spot revoked

TGA approves AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia

NT revokes Melbourne Airport hot spot, opens to travellers in transit

A federal government-run expressions of interest process for health groups interested in delivering the vaccine recently closed for primary care organisations, including GP practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).

NT Primary Health Network (NT PHN) chief executive Gill Yearsley said there had been a “fantastic response” to the call-out from GP practices in the Territory,

“Twenty-seven practices from throughout the Territory submitted an expression of interest,” she said.

Cavenagh Medical Centre practice manager Monique Cleal and practice owner and GP Dr Jeanine Richardson. Picture: Che Chorley

“The EOI process has now closed and the next phase is for NT PHN to support the appointed practices to prepare for the rollout of Phase 1b under the national vaccination campaign.”

Cavenagh Medical Centre, in the Darwin CBD, is one of the GP clinics to register its interest in delivering the vaccine, though staff are yet to find out if their application has been approved.

Practice manager Monique Cleal said clinic staff wanted to do their part in delivering the potentially lifesaving vaccine in the NT community.

“We’re only going to be able to supply the vaccine to our patients because we don’t have the facilities to go to the broader community, but we want to support our patients by providing that service,” she said.

$1 FOR ALL YOUR NEWS? HERE’S HOW: Sign up now to our amazing deal of $1 for 28 days

“Our mission statement is to empower people to have the best health outcomes, and this is part of that.

“We do flu vaccines so we should do COVID-19 vaccines too – it makes sense.”

Ms Cleal said there was a lot of anticipation around the vaccine rollout in GP circles.

“We’re excited and anxious – it’s coming up so soon,” she said.

The EOI process for more health organisations, including pharmacies, interested in being part of the COVID-19 vaccine delivery is still open.

Follow @AliciaCPerera