The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Pushka]

The ABC announced the new fed govt covid vaccine booking system is accessed via health.gov.au so I had a look.

It told me I'm eligible for the covid vaccine from 22 March due to one of my jobs.

It then told me that there are no clinics in the CBD offering the vaccine, that the 20 Adelaide clinics who do offer it are only taking covid vaccine bookings by phone except one, and that clinic will not accept online bookings for new patients. My normal GP clinic is not offering the covid vaccine so I seem to have no choice except to be a new patient somewhere else. And no doubt the phone lines will be jammed for at least a few days.

They have had months and months to plan for this vaccine rollout and this is the best they can do? I'm just glad I don't have a health issue that puts me at risk.

Maybe I'll just wait for the 6G vaccine instead (ok yes, joke )

It is up to the Doctors Clinics to enlist in the online booking system and currently there is only one in Adelaide that has agreed to doing this, and which is in my area anyway so I got lucky. It's about a 10 minute drive. The ones online are accessed through the website I gave earlier. The Govt can't make the Doctors surgeries go online.

If you are in the Aus Health website and find the clinic bookable online, then that is then directed to HealthEngine.com.au

I am a new patient also. Why don't you take a trip to Port Adelaide hey? But I agree. It's a bit of a dogs breakfast.

 

[jakeseven7]

The ABC announced the new fed govt covid vaccine booking system is accessed via health.gov.au so I had a look.

It told me I'm eligible for the covid vaccine from 22 March due to one of my jobs.

It then told me that there are no clinics in the CBD offering the vaccine, that the 20 Adelaide clinics who do offer it are only taking covid vaccine bookings by phone except one, and that clinic will not accept online bookings for new patients. My normal GP clinic is not offering the covid vaccine so I seem to have no choice except to be a new patient somewhere else. And no doubt the phone lines will be jammed for at least a few days.

They have had months and months to plan for this vaccine rollout and this is the best they can do? I'm just glad I don't have a health issue that puts me at risk.

Maybe I'll just wait for the 6G vaccine instead (ok yes, joke )

If your clinic didn't submit a tender for the vaccine then they can't be a part of the rollout.... so yes you should give them that feedback that you are disappointed they aren't taking part.

There are also many mass vaccination sites supporting the clinics - though in SA they are so unorganised I wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't been announced yet....

 

[Pushka]

If your clinic didn't submit a tender for the vaccine then they can't be a part of the rollout, so yes you should give them that feedback.

There are also mass vaccination sites supporting the clinics - though in SA they are so unorganised I wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't been announced yet.

They haven't been announced yet. If ever. We have so many good sites too we could use. Royal Showgrounds comes to mind (heaps of parking and under cover).

 

[RooFlyer]

It seems none of the Tasmanian GP clinics offering phase 1b are taking bookings yet. They haven’t been told when vaccinations supply will arrive.

 

[MelMel]

My GP clinic in Melbourne will be receiving the vaccine end of March. They will be getting 50 doses a week initially, the clinic will be contacting eligible patients individually.

 

[Pushka]

My GP clinic in Melbourne will be receiving the vaccine end of March. They will be getting 50 doses a week initially, the clinic will be contacting eligible patients individually.

This is the bit that worries me when your own GP practise didnt sign up. Hopefully we are ok but there will be many not knowing what to do. It is supposed to be first come first served in all clinics receiving a supply.

 

[Pushka]

It seems none of the Tasmanian GP clinics offering phase 1b are taking bookings yet. They haven’t been told when vaccinations supply will arrive.

Yes they are according to this for Launceston

Find a health service

Use the healthdirect Service Finder to locate your nearest health services in any part of Australia, such as GPs, hospitals, dentists, psychologists, hospitals, optical, pathology, pharmacies and a wide range of others.

covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes they are according to this for Launceston

Find a health service

Use the healthdirect Service Finder to locate your nearest health services in any part of Australia, such as GPs, hospitals, dentists, psychologists, hospitals, optical, pathology, pharmacies and a wide range of others.

covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au

I’m talking about taking actual bookings to get a vaccination. There are 36 or so clinics around Tasmania that are doing this (100 eventually) but none of the four in my wider area that I called today were taking bookings because they said they didn’t know when they will be getting the vaccine supplies.

There was one that took online bookings but when I went to them, it said new patients had to phone. Same result.

It’s okay I’m in no particular hurry, I just thought I’d try and get in early to avoid timing conflict with the flu vaccination later.

 

[Gremlin]

My uncle runs a practice in outback NSW. He didn't sign up because he would lose money on it. There are definitely economies of scale and if you run a small rural practice those economies of scale work against you.

 

[Jmrocky]

What does he say about the comparative the death rates from COVID in Australia and the USA? Is that a 'rollout rate' he'd like to see?

They're exclusive really. Technically there's no reason why an effective and efficient vaccine rollout requires high death rates.

It doesn't really make sense to bring up our rates when referring to issues with the rollout, especially when the schedule and assumptions put in place, while rates are low, aren't close to being met.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Makes the point.

AstraZeneca Under Fire After 1 Of The 17 Million Recipients Gets Hit By Bus After Second Jab — The Betoota Advocate

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT Australia’s medicines regulator insists there’s “no evidence” the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is the cause of pedestrians being run over by buses which has seen its use suspended by several leading European nations, including Germany and France. The...

www.betootaadvocate.com

 

[Flying mermaid]

I thought I saw Queanbeyan when I searched from NSW? It's just been announced on the radio in SA too. Riverside clinic or some such name?

OK. Aus health has their own checker and link to clinics, many of whom aren't going online for bookings. I can see one in Canberra that is online, the rest you have to call.

search for Canberra

Find a health service

Use the healthdirect Service Finder to locate your nearest health services in any part of Australia, such as GPs, hospitals, dentists, psychologists, hospitals, optical, pathology, pharmacies and a wide range of others.

covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au

Riverside appears here and seems to be bookable online and will take new patients?

Yes just had a look at the Aus Govt one (been at the zoo with Bub all morning ) and it has about 20 GPs listed including Ms FM’s GP centre. Phone bookings only. She did snap my head off this morning and said she needs to time it with her other medication regimes. Anyway I have just sent her the info and hopefully she books - there is only so much nagging a mother can do of an adult

edit - I did see Queanbeyan this morning but didn’t feel it was fair (or even allowed?) for an ACT resident to grab their slots.

 

[jakeseven7]

It seems none of the Tasmanian GP clinics offering phase 1b are taking bookings yet. They haven’t been told when vaccinations supply will arrive.

Some have, 2 of my family booked in Tassie for next week.

 

[Pushka]

Yes just had a look at the Aus Govt one (been at the zoo with Bub all morning ) and it has about 20 GPs listed including Ms FM’s GP centre. Phone bookings only. She did snap my head off this morning and said she needs to time it with her other medication regimes. Anyway I have just sent her the info and hopefully she books - there is only so much nagging a mother can do of an adult

edit - I did see Queanbeyan this morning but didn’t feel it was fair (or even allowed?) for an ACT resident to grab their slots.

An Adelaidian like me wouldn't know the difference between ACT and Queanbeyan . It's tricky. Nephew works in Canberra and lives in NSW (Queanbeyan). And many would be the same. Get the vaccination at work or home and does it make any difference anyway once eligible?

I'm guessing she's feeling a little overwhelmed right now.

 

[RooFlyer]

They're exclusive really. Technically there's no reason why an effective and efficient vaccine rollout requires high death rates.

It doesn't really make sense to bring up our rates when referring to issues with the rollout, especially when the schedule and assumptions put in place, while rates are low, aren't close to being met.

I agree. I was more making the point that the roll out rate overseas has little to do with that in Australia.

But in respect of your first para, if you have incredibly high death rates - ie a real health emergency - then there is much greater imperative to employ greater ( faster) roll out measures, which may cause some errors and be a bit wasteful.

 

[Anna]

So apparently not even phone bookings are available for new patients. I have to get my existing GP to send me a 'patient health summary', then I have to physically take it to the clinic that is doing covid vaccinations and make the booking in person. (I'll also take my work ID in case what they are really looking for is proof of eligibility for 1b). That's what my nearest covid vaccination clinic requires anyway.

I think it's a bit short sighted of my existing GP clinic to refuse to offer vaccinations. I'm now going to visit a new clinic which is actually much closer to where I live, and if I like it I might just remain a patient there and not bother to stick with the old clinic which is near where I used to live about 15 years ago. Don't let your clients sample the competition is the usual rule in my profession.

 

[Flying mermaid]

An Adelaidian like me wouldn't know the difference between ACT and Queanbeyan . It's tricky. Nephew works in Canberra and lives in NSW (Queanbeyan). And many would be the same. Get the vaccination at work or home and does it make any difference anyway once eligible?

I'm guessing she's feeling a little overwhelmed right now.

Queanbeyan is NSW but a large number of people living there would work in the ACT - rentals and housing is cheaper and becoming more so over time as rates and land tax are crazy expensive in the ACT. Canberra Hospital is the major hospital for the area, so any complex cases would be transferred from Queanbeyan to Canberra anyway.

Given states are getting allocations for their populations it does seem a bit unfair for ACT residents to go over there to get vaccinated but then on the other hand as you say a Queanbeyan resident could have an ACT GP and get vaccinated here.

We are all one country, not that you would think it with attitudes over the last year.....

I didn’t get my head snapped off when I sent her the latest info, so we will see what happens

 

[Pushka]

I think it's a bit short sighted of my existing GP clinic to refuse to offer vaccinations. I'm now going to visit a new clinic which is actually much closer to where I live, and if I like it I might just remain a patient there and not bother to stick with the old clinic which is near where I used to live about 15 years ago. Don't let your clients sample the competition is the usual rule in my profession.

I totally agree. I contacted my clinic who did likewise and the person answering the phone suggested I go to QEH! I called them and they were horrified. They are still vaccinating their hospital people in 1A. Anyway I just called the online and new, clinic I've just booked into and the person answering the phone was incredibly nice and helpful and the phone was answered on the third ring. And it too, is closer to where I live. I don't have to get anything sent over to them but have print outs of everything.

 

[DC3]

Some GP clinics are claiming that they’ve been caught unaware on Phase 1b:

GP clinics caught unaware in rush for COVID vaccination bookings

Australians over the age of 70 will become eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccination from Monday but plenty are struggling to actually book an appointment, with some GP clinics saying they did not know they were part of the rollout.

www.abc.net.au

 

[RooFlyer]

Some GP clinics are claiming that they’ve been caught unaware on Phase 1b:

GP clinics caught unaware in rush for COVID vaccination bookings

Australians over the age of 70 will become eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccination from Monday but plenty are struggling to actually book an appointment, with some GP clinics saying they did not know they were part of the rollout.

www.abc.net.au

... caught unaware of the announcement, not on 1b itself. Yes that seems a common reaction.