Review of Support for General Practice needed as boosters approved
The AMA has said the federal government will need to review funding arrangements for GPs administering COVID-19 vaccines as it looks to roll-out the COVID-19 booster program.
AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said, on welcoming the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) decision to approve Pfizer as a booster, it is now important the Government gets the details of the booster program right and gives GPs adequate notice of its implementation once ATAGI makes its final recommendation.
“It will be important GPs are properly funded to administer booster vaccines. The current funding model is not fit for purpose, having been designed to support the administration of two primary doses - not a booster program.
“We need to see a proactive approach to the roll-out and this means the Government will need to ensure general practice is properly funded to reach out to patients using recall systems, assess patients as well as administer booster shots,” he said.
Dr Khorshid said general practice had been the backbone of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out.
“With plenty of vaccine supply, GPs are ready and able to continue this work and ensure plans to open up the country are supported by high take up of booster vaccines."
