15 February 2022

RACGP backs calls for action on COVID-19 in the Northern Territory

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging action to address COVID-19 in the Northern Territory with hospitalisations at an all time high and the health system struggling to cope.

The RACGP is backing the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory’s (AMSANT) concerns about the outbreak – as well as their calls to urgently improve vaccination coverage, including boosters, and ensure COVID-19 positive people have a safe place to isolate.

While vaccination coverage has improved in the Northern Territory, it is behind all other states and territories at 90.8% first dose and 87.8% second dose. Booster coverage is just 42%. And vaccination coverage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continues to lag behind non-Indigenous people, at 87.8% first dose and 80.6% second dose.

The NT also has the highest hospitalisation rate in Australia. Hospitalisations are now higher than the peak the Doherty institute said it could safely cope with, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately represented among those in hospital.

RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Chair, Professor Peter O’Mara said urgent action was needed.

“We cannot sit back and pretend the situation in the Northern Territory is ‘under control’,” said Professor O’Mara.

“The NT has the highest per capita rate of hospitalisations in the country, and while the number of deaths is low, every death matters.

“And the health system is overloaded. Government clinics have reduced services, specialist outreach services and elective surgery remain cancelled, and primary care services are severely impacted.

“This will have a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of Territorians. We know lack of access to care leads to worsening health conditions, including chronic conditions, as well as delayed diagnosis.”

The RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Chair called on the government to ramp up vaccination, particularly boosters.

“As public health measures are wound back, and the country opens to international tourism, as well as interstate, we face increased risk of community spread,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the Omicron strain has brought with it complacency that it’s a milder strain. However, the emerging evidence shows it’s largely milder for those who are fully vaccinated and boosted.

“This message urgently needs to get out to the community.

“High vaccination and booster coverage is critical to protect our community, particularly those who are older, and with underlying health conditions who are more at-risk of severe symptoms. Because more vulnerable people still have significant risk of hospitalisation even if they’ve had two doses.”

“We also back AMSANT’s calls for the government to immediately establish group isolation facilities that can be supportive places for COVID-19 positive people. This is critical to prevent spread among households, and ensure positive people have a safe and supportive place to live in.

“That some COVID-19 positive people may be leaving their homes for fear of infecting vulnerable family, and they are without safe and supportive shelter, is an utter disgrace. People need access to group isolation facilities in all the regional centres.”


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