Extra supplies of the Pfizer vaccine are destined for Canberra after the changed rules on the AstraZeneca jab threw the ACT's vaccine rollout into disarray.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"The Commonwealth government has confirmed we will be receiving an increase of Pfizer vaccines over the coming weeks," a Saturday morning tweet from Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.
"This means we have the capacity to make up to 1500 extra vaccination appointments a week over the coming weeks."
There will be more information for people in their 50s next week about how appointments can be booked. This age group was previously allowed to have an AstraZeneca jab but the latest health advice is that the tiny risk of blood clots means this vaccine is best reserved for people over 60.
The sudden change of advice from the federal authorities meant that GPs in Canberra were scrambling to rearrange appointments.
One doctor said the change left "so much confusion".
The change in the rules came after a new case of blood clots in a person who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Australia has now seen 60 such possible cases, with 37 confirmed and 23 probable. Of the 12 recent cases, seven occurred in people aged between 50 and 59. Two people died.
The vaccine advisory body said that new meant the ratio of risk of clotting to the benefit of protection from Covid in that 50 to 59 age group, had changed.
In response to the updated advice, the federal government will fast-track the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine to general practices - but currently only the AstraZeneca vaccine is available.
After the change in vaccine rules, one practice - Fisher Family Practice - was inundated with calls from residents hoping to book in for the Pfizer vaccine.
Business manager Kylie Gibson said there had been "so much confusion" about access to vaccines, and urged people to be patient as they worked through cancellations and the rebooking process for patients eligible for AstraZeneca.
"It has put a lot of pressure on us," she said.
"We have had probably 30 phone calls today from people trying to book in for Pfizer.
"The workload through the whole vaccination process has been enormous for general practice. We just really ask that people be very patient with us, and [remind them] that we can only administer what we have access to."
The clinic was ready to put 140 jabs in arms on Saturday, but that number has been scaled back after cancellations in the 50 to 59 cohort.
"It has put a lot of pressure on us," she said.
"We have had probably 30 phone calls today from people trying to book in for Pfizer.
"The workload through the whole vaccination process has been enormous for general practice. We just really ask that people be very patient with us, and [remind them] that we can only administer what we have access to."
The clinic was ready to put 140 jabs in arms on Saturday, but that number has been scaled back after cancellations in the 50-59 cohort.
READ MORE:
The Fisher clinic is among the Canberra facilities hoping to soon be able to administer the Pfizer vaccine.
Lieutenant-General John Frewen, who is overseeing rollout logistics, said 1300 GPs would be able to deliver Pfizer vaccines by the end of July.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the rollout remained on track despite the AstraZeneca curveball, although ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman said it would delay expanding access to vaccination in the territory.
"It is very likely we won't be able to open up to 30- to 39-year-olds probably as early as we were hoping to," Dr Coleman said. "[But] I don't think it is going to be months and months."
Dr Coleman met with federal health officials on Thursday to discuss the ACT's Pfizer vaccine supply forecast and determine how many GPs would be involved in the next stage, as well as how many doses they would have access to.
"It's great to get [GPs] involved in increasing amounts as we become more familiar with these vaccines, and as we understand how they go to be embedded into our programs," Dr Coleman said.
Ainslie Family Practice medical director David Brand said the clinic had halved the usual number of doses administered on Friday due to cancellations of people aged 50 to 59.
The result was "short-term wastage" of AstraZeneca doses, which he hoped wouldn't be an issue into next week as most appointments were patients getting their second dose.
Health authorities say anyone aged 50 to 59 who has had the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should get the second dose.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram