1.3 COVID-19 and general practice

Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, concerns have been raised about COVID-19’s impact on patients, GPs, practice staff and practice viability.¹⁰ This continues to be reflected in the 2021 survey, with particular challenges related to Australia’s vaccine rollout. Almost three in five GPs (59%) reported that managing patient expectations about vaccinations is one of the most challenging issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The second-most reported challenge is finding a financially viable way to provide COVID-19 vaccinations (37%), with another 33% reporting financial pressures (Figure 7).

The third-most challenging issue for GPs is that patients are not coming into the practice during the pandemic. Almost one in three GPs reported difficulty accessing adequate supplies of a COVID-19 vaccine and difficulty providing face-to-face services, such as complying with social distancing, ensuring adequate staffing and accessing PPE (Figure 7).

One in seven respondents (15%) reported a challenge under ‘other’ in a free-text box. Among those specifying an ‘other’ response, these included increased workload (14%), dealing with potentially COVID-19-positive patients (13%), patients’ stress levels (9%), vaccine hesitancy (8%), vaccine rollout issues (7%), access to stock to provide flu vaccinations (7%), and staff stress levels (6%).³

COVID-19 vaccination services involve considerable additional costs and administrative requirements, such as developing and updating consent forms and online booking systems, training staff, paying additional wages (often at after-hours rates), reporting adverse events following immunisation, and providing the necessary infrastructure, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) at reasonable prices to support safe immunisation services on a large scale.

In March 2021, new MBS items were introduced to enable GPs and other medical practitioners to assess patients for their suitability to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These new items were based on a Level A attendance item and were required to be bulk billed.

Patients are turning to GPs as their trusted health professionals for advice on vaccines, including possible side effects. The announcement of recommended age restrictions for the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine resulted in a noticeable increase in vaccine hesitancy early in 2021. It takes considerable time to discuss these concerns and provide patients with full vaccine counselling.

The most commonly reported challenge arising from COVID-19 is managing patient expectations about vaccinations — Measure: GP responses to the question, ‘What challenges are you experiencing which impact your ability to provide care to patients as a result of COVID-19?’
Base: Responses to survey question, n = 1386.
Source: EY Sweeney, RACGP GP Fellow Survey, May 2021.

‘ Despite concerns about the financial viability of providing COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as difficulty accessing doses, almost nine out of 10 GPs reported that their practice is administering these vaccinations or is willing to provide this service (Figure 8).’

Practice teams are again demonstrating that they are prepared to put the wellbeing of their patients first, regardless of financial and logistical barriers.

GPs working at group practices are the most likely to be providing COVID-19 vaccinations (81%), whereas solo GPs (41%) and GPs working in public or private hospitals (43%) are the least likely.³

The majority of general practices are providing COVID-19 vaccinations — Measure: GP responses to the question, ‘Is your main practice providing COVID-19 vaccinations?’
Base: Responses to survey question, n = 1386.
Source: EY Sweeney, RACGP GP Fellow Survey, May 2021.

Data show that GPs are at the forefront of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, with more than half of all vaccines across the country administered in general practice during the first seven months of the rollout (from February 2021). This is despite being restricted from joining the rollout until four weeks after the first doses were available through state-run clinics and ongoing difficulty receiving supply of adequate doses (Figure 9).

In June 2021, approximately 10% of general practice activity in NSW and Victoria was directed at providing COVID-19 vaccinations, a figure that is likely to increase as more doses become available.¹¹

General practices are leading the COVID-19 vaccine rollout — Measure: COVID-19 vaccine cumulative doses by administration channel – state-run vaccination hubs, aged care, disability care and general practices.
Source: www.covid19data.com.au/vaccines [Accessed 21 September 2021].

3. EY Sweeney. RACGP GP Fellow Survey. Melbourne: EY Sweeney, 2021.
10. Kippen R, O'Sullivan B, Hickson H, et al. A national survey of COVID-19 challenges, responses and effects in Australian general practice. Aust J Gen Pract 2020;49(11). doi:10.31128/AJGP-06-20-5465.
11. Pearce C, MA, Gardner K, Supple J. COVID-19 and Australian general practice: The impact of vaccination programs. Melbourne: Outcome Health, 2021 [Accessed 10 September 2021].

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1.3 COVID-19 and general practice

Figure 7. The most commonly reported challenge arising from COVID-19 is managing patient expectations about vaccinations

Figure 8. The majority of general practices are providing COVID-19 vaccinations

Figure 9. General practices are leading the COVID-19 vaccine rollout