‘Enough gowns for two days’: Report finds Tassie’s PPE shortfall at the beginning of pandemic

Tasmania’s emergency stockpile of personal protective equipment had enough gowns for two days, enough hand hygiene solution for a week and just 144 face shields, a report has found. LATEST >>

• Inquiry uncovers a $42.2 dollar Tasmanian PPE bill
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STOCKS of personal protective equipment needed by frontline workers were below recommended levels at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic but nobody knew because of poor record keeping, the Auditor General has found.

In late January last year the state stockpile contained only enough gowns for two days, enough hand hygiene solution for a week and just 144 face shields — which were past their expiry date.

The Tasmanian Audit Office’s report on the Allocation, distribution and replenishment of Personal Protective Equipment was tabled in state parliament today.

The whole of government pandemic plan called for a stock of PPE enough to carry out business as usual for six weeks.

“It was not entirely clear at the beginning of the pandemic, if these reduced stock levels, or quality issues with stock held, were known about,” the report notes.

“Shortages in fit-for-purpose PPE stock at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,

exposed the public sector to the risk of being unable to supply PPE as COVID-19

infections increased.

“However, the reduction in non-essential operations and the easing of COVID-19 infections in Tasmania relieved pressure on PPE demand.”

Auditor General Rod Whitehead speaks on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Tuesday May 28, 2019.

The audit found there was initially a lack of guidance on the allocation of PPE, but this was addressed as the pandemic progressed.

“Agencies commented that, in the early days of the pandemic, advice was sought from the Department of Health and the Public Health Service concerning access to and clinical assistance concerning PPE, but they struggled to assist.”

“With the Department of Health limited in its capacity to provide guidance during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and very limited access to the State Stockpile, agencies

developed their own strategies to secure sufficient PPE.”

But the report concluded that the state muddled through.

“Overall, PPE was generally available for use by frontline workers across Tasmanian Government agencies,” it said.

“While PPE stock levels were below levels recommended prior to the pandemic, agencies obtained necessary stock in a challenging global market where demand greatly outstripped supply.”

The audit made three recommendations including making plans to strengthen guidance on the allocation, distributions and replenishment of PPE; greater collaboration between agencies and modelling future demand of PPE and maintaining stock levels proportionate to needs.

“Collaboration between agencies with regard to PPE was limited during the initial first

few months of the pandemic but improved during the pandemic.

“We noted missed opportunities, such as access to advice, provision of PPE, and instances where use of available resources were not maximised between agencies.”

In April last year, then Health Minister Sarah Courtney assured Tasmanians there was enough PPE for workers.

“I would like to reassure staff that we have an appropriate level of PPE supplies across all regions of the State, so that our frontline workers can safely respond to patients’ clinical needs,” she said at the time.

Tasmania spent $42.2m on PPE between March and the end of June last year as it ordered in face masks, gowns and gloves.

Adverse reaction leaves 62yo ‘stranded’ in vaccination limbo

A man who went into anaphylaxis after his first AstraZeneca jab has been told he cannot receive a second Covid-19 shot, leaving him fearful of what lies ahead.

The 62-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, suffered coughing, sneezing, red dots and rashes “the size of your hands”, bright red eyes and swollen, prickly lips five days after his first dose in early June.

He was treated with antihistamines and steroids by his doctor.

Director of Public Health Doctor Mark Veitch with clinical nurse consultant Nikki Lane at the Roy Fagan Centre in Hobart. First Tasmanians to be given the AstraZeneca vaccination against COVID-19. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The southern Tasmania man shared documentation with the Mercury revealing his doctor recommended he receive a variant other than AstraZeneca for his second jab.

“I have advised him to not have this vaccination (AstraZeneca) in the future and to have an alternative vaccination like the Pfizer,” the doctor’s letter said.

The letter revealed the man had no prior known allergies or adverse reactions in his medical history, and he told the Mercury he had made no other significant changes to his lifestyle or diet during that time to warrant an allergic reaction.

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance website has said people who suffer anaphylaxis after their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine should not have that vaccine again.

“Your healthcare provider can help to determine whether it will be safe for you to have an alternative COVID-19 vaccine,” the website reads.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture: Chris Kidd

But the man has been told on separate occasions, by a local nurse and by staff via the Public Health Covid-19 Hotline, it was not possible to mix his AstraZeneca vaccine with a Pfizer vaccine.

“I rang the health hotline (on Tuesday morning),” he said.

“They told me if you’ve had AstraZeneca and then you’re told to have Pfizer, you have not got approval to have Pfizer, not in Australia.

“What’s happening overseas? What is the recommended timeline between a first jab of AstraZeneca and a second jab of Pfizer? No one can tell me.”

Registered nurses Jen Ives receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Tracey Coppleman at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture: Chris Kidd

The man said being unvaccinated affected his day to day life and left him uncertain about his and others’ protection against the coronavirus going forward.

“I’m stranded, here I am wanting to get to Melbourne for a business appointment, I want to do the right thing and have both jabs but I can’t,” he said.

“This is not just about me, but what was interesting was on the phone they said they had never come across this before.”

Doctor Helen McArdle AMA President AMA Tasmania with clinical nurse consultant Nikki Lane at the Roy Fagan Centre in Hobart. First Tasmanians to be given the AstraZeneca vaccination against COVID-19. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The Australian government Health website has recommended getting the same type of Covid-19 vaccine for each shot.

“This is because the evidence from clinical trials shows this is effective and is what is approved for use by the (Therapeutic Goods Administration),” the website reads.

But a study from Spanish institute ISCIII revealed combining both vaccine types could encourage a powerful immune response.

A Tasmanian Department of Health spokesman said all adverse reactions should be reported to the Department or direct to the TGA.

“Public Health Services assess these reports and if there is evidence of a serious reaction attributed to the vaccine, then the individual is advised that they should not receive their second dose until they have sought specialist advice about future doses of Covid-19 vaccine,” the spokesman said.

He said Australians were not advised to have mixed vaccines.

“If someone has had an adverse event that is linked to their first dose of one vaccine, then a further vaccine dose requires a careful clinical assessment of the risks and benefits by an experienced clinician,” he said.

A Federal government Department of Health spokesman said people with adverse reactions should consult their healthcare professional, but said advise from Australia’s medical experts asserts both vaccinations should be completed with the same vaccine.