Jab jitters stalling Covid-19 vaccine rollout

The pace of Australia’s vaccination program has slowed drastically since blood clot concerns prompted a change from reliance on AstraZeneca for the bulk of the population.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Karen Price says many GP practices were struggling to fill available appointments over blood clot fears.

The pace of Australia’s vaccination program has slowed drastically since blood clot concerns prompted a change from reliance on the AstraZeneca shot to vaccinate the bulk of the population, as those aged over 50 in priority groups refuse to be vaccinated at state-run hubs.

Figures obtained by The Australian from state governments showed the number of vaccin­ations at hospital hubs dropped by about a third in NSW and Victoria and almost halved in Western Australia.

At the same time, GP practices are reporting “widespread” vaccine hesitancy among those aged over 50 who are reluctant to get the AstraZeneca shot.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Karen Price said many GP practices were struggling to fill available appointments over blood clot fears. “I think the hesitancy is pretty widespread,” she said.

“We need to demonstrate to the population that this is a safe vaccine for the over-50s. We’ve got to restore confidence.”

Dr Price said at her own surgery, the practice nurse had made 20 phone calls at the weekend to elderly patients offering vaccine appointments, and only one had taken up the offer.

“On the other hand, I’ve got other younger patients who are turning up who are not quite eligible yet. They’re wanting the vaccine and we’re not able to give it to them yet.”

It comes as the number of vaccines administered daily at state-run vaccination hubs dropped significantly around the country after the changed advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine, which came into effect on April 9.

In NSW on April 8, there were 6956 state-administered vac­cines. On April 15, that figure had dropped to 4218.

In Victoria, 6057 vaccines were administered at state-run hubs on April 8. On April 15, that figure was 3265.

 

Victoria suspended administration of the ­AstraZeneca vaccine in the wake of the federal government’s changed advice and resumed giving the jabs only on Monday.

Vaccines delivered at state-run hubs in WA almost halved between April 8 and April 15.

Queensland Health sources reported widening concern among healthcare workers over 50 who wanted the Pfizer vaccine and were opting to wait until they could get a different vaccine.

The proportion of AstraZeneca vaccines delivered at Queensland hubs since the changed advice dropped from 55 per cent of the total to 20 per cent of total jabs given. Supply of Pfizer vaccine is extremely limited.

Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said recently that healthcare workers aged over 50 were rejecting the AstraZeneca vaccine in significant numbers. It leaves a section of the population at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 unprotected.

AMA president Omar Korshid said blood clot fears were not the only factor driving increased vaccine hesitancy. “The rollout has been characterised as something that’s chaotic and missing its targets, and with vaccines that are of questionable safety, and most of that isn’t actually true,” he told the ABC.

“But it’s critical our state governments and federal government work together to demon­strate to Australians that they’re on top of this, and they will roll out these vaccines in a safe, effective way by the end of the year.”

Dr Price said once a critical mass of people received the vaccine, that would encourage others who were hesitant to follow suit.