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Thank you, GPs: A message from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt
Minister Greg Hunt has thanked GPs for their amazing work during the vaccine rollout and asked them to reach out to vulnerable and disadvantaged patients ahead of a national blitz.
ATAGI statement on vaccine boosters
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released a statement on the need for additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.
In summary, ATAGI:
- recommends maximising primary vaccination
- anticipates some population groups (such as those with severe immunocompromise) may require a third dose as part of their course of vaccination (details to follow)
- expects that booster doses for other individuals may be required in the future
- notes that international data suggest protection from two doses is maintained against severe COVID-19 disease, including both hospitalisation and intensive care unit admissions
- notes that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not yet received a registration application for the administration of additional doses of any COVID-19 vaccines.
Responding to requests for COVID-19 vaccination exemptions
We know that many of you have already had requests from patients for letters of exemption from receiving the vaccine.
At this time, COVID-19 vaccination is only mandatory for certain designated workers in some jurisdictions. Each public health order outlines who may be exempt from the order and what documentation is required as evidence.
In most cases, exemption is strictly limited to those who have a medical contraindication to all available COVID-19 vaccines or when the relevant minister considers appropriate.
The RACGP is working with federal, state and territory governments to clarify how exemptions will be managed when proof-of-vaccination systems are implemented in the coming months.
You can order posters to display in your practice that outline how a person can access their proof of vaccination via the Services Australia website.
COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance
You can find the latest COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report (with data on adverse events following immunisation up to 2 September 2021) on the TGA website.
It addresses reporting of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), immune thrombocytopenia and Guillain-Barre Syndrome after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, and myocarditis and pericarditis after receiving the Pfizer vaccine.
A warning about fainting following vaccination has been added to the product information for the Pfizer vaccine, which states, ‘Syncope (fainting) may occur in association with administration of injectable vaccines. Procedures should be in place to avoid injury from fainting.’
The information notes that stress-related reactions to immunisation can be more common in younger people, that giving immunisations in a mass vaccination centre can be a contributing factor, and the risk is consistent with information from clinical trials.