Pharmacists are calling for funding equity between them and general practitioners who administer COVID-19 vaccinations, to help avoid workforce burnout and ensure Australia's immunisation schedule stays on track.
Key points:
- GPs and pharmacists can claim fees from the federal government for administering COVID-19 vaccinations
- The peak body representing pharmacists says they should be able to claim as much as GPs can
- Both professions are calling for more support to ensure healthcare workers do not get burnt out
Yesterday, the Commonwealth announced payments made to general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists who administer boosters would increase by $10 for each jab.
It's a move welcomed by the national president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Chris Freeman, who said several pharmacists had been considering withdrawing from the vaccine program, because of financial and logistical pressures.
He said many had stayed on because of a commitment to the community, but warned it was not sustainable.
"It's a good start, with the $10, but I think there is some way to go before pharmacists and GPs are fully resourced and helping the community with this," Dr Freeman said.
"So, while that's welcome, there is still some way to go in terms of making sure there's an equity [in] service provision there."
Before the extra $10, pharmacists could claim $16 for administering a booster dose, while GPs were eligible to claim about $24. Some GPs may also be entitled to claim extra for assessment.
Yesterday, during national cabinet, the Commonwealth also agreed to re-establish mass-vaccination hubs, to deliver booster shots.
It's hoped the facilities will take some of the pressure off other parts of the healthcare system, especially with children aged five to 11 becoming eligible for their vaccinations from January 10.
"[Children's vaccination] consultations are actually going to start taking a bit longer because the consent process, for example, is a little bit more complicated," Dr Freeman said.
"The more support we can provide pharmacists and GPs over the next three to six months, the more they can do to support our community, in terms of protecting against COVID and new variants."
The federal health department did not answer questions about the discrepancy in payments, but said community pharmacies were integral to Australia's vaccine rollout plan.
"So far, over 2.7 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered by pharmacies to patients in their local communities," a spokesperson said.
"The professional contributions made by pharmacies has resulted in a high vaccination rate of around 52,000 doses administered each day and ensure the nation has broad coverage of COVID-19 vaccinated people across the country."
The spokesperson also pointed to the increased financial incentive for booster shots, which will remain in effect until the end of June.
Dr Freeman thinks increased financial support would also help both pharmacists and GPs hire more locums, to fill the void left by health workers in need of a break.
Doctors already 'burnt out and fatigued'
It's an issue the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) agrees needs to be addressed.
"The capacity issue really is now a bit of a challenge as lots of people look to get their booster shot," RDAA chief executive Peta Rutherford said.
"We're only a few weeks away from the childhood-vaccination program commencing in January. So, it's a significant workload. We ask community members to be a little bit patient."
Ms Rutherford said the RDAA was very worried about the health and wellbeing of health workers.
"Our members are quite burnt out [and] they're fatigued," she said.
"A lot of them haven't had a break since the pandemic started. They are starting to look to have their break because they know they've got to return to work in January and be ready to hit the ground running.
"They certainly keep the community absolutely front and centre of their decision making. But it's just ensuring that it is possible to sustain their energy and own mental health and well-being for the long term."
In New South Wales, GPs have also been asked to help manage less severe cases of COVID-19 in the community, as case numbers climb.
Karen Price, the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, told the ABC the extra load all added up.
"Managing COVID in the community, the boosters and the incoming childhood vaccinations is an issue of concern for us in terms of how a rather exhausted workforce is going to continue," she said.
The best time for booster shots? It depends
National cabinet also considered bringing forward booster jabs by a month, to four months after a patient's primary course.
No change was made, and the Prime Minister said he would instead be guided by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), a panel of experts that advises the federal government on vaccinations.
Some doctors say that decision needs to be based on a combination of factors.
"It will depend a bit on case numbers but pandemic management also depends on workforce management and availability," Dr Price said.
Last week, booster shot eligibility was brought forward, by a month, to five months after a patient's primary course, to help combat the new Omicron variant.
But the snap decision caught pharmacists and GPs offguard, and without enough stock on order, meaning demand surged but they did not have enough supply.
"All of a sudden, extra people were eligible and the supply didn't really align with the numbers that had been eligible and coming through," Ms Rutherford said.
Although, she said, GPs have been reassured those supply issues are being resolved.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia had enough vaccine supply to meet demand, even with booster shots and the children’s rollout beginning soon.
“We have all the vaccines we need for the country,” Mr Hunt said in a press conference on Thursday.
Editor's note (23/12/2021): An earlier version of a table in this story said GPs could claim between $34 and $38 for administering a second dose. That figure has been updated to reflect correct range of $24 and $38.
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2021-12-23 05:37:08Z
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