Maintaining current rates of vaccination

Dr Linda Calabresi

writer

Dr Linda Calabresi

GP; Medical Editor, Healthed

Dr Linda Calabresi

 

The COVID vaccine rollout is certainly moving forward admirably. Authorities are predicting at this rate we might reach our 70% target in November and the 80% target by the end of the year.

Of course this prediction relies heavily on maintaining current rates of vaccination, and it is well-recognised that there are many different factors that can and will affect these rates. Firstly access to the vaccine is an obvious rate-limiting step and no doubt explains low vaccine coverage in areas such as north western Australia and outback Queensland.

But also there are obviously other factors at play if one is to explain why certain areas of the major cities are lagging in their vaccine coverage compared to others. Many questions will be being asked, especially in Sydney in order to discover how to encourage vaccination in those areas that are dragging the chain, which incidentally tend to be those areas where the most recent outbreaks are occurring.

Healthed recently asked doctors what they thought might have the most impact on improving vaccination rates in Australia. Of the 828 GPs surveyed, almost three quarters (74.27%) believed a ‘vaccine passport’ would positively influence uptake and reduce the time needed to reach vaccination targets. The majority of the remainder were unsure of the impact of such an initiative and only 3% considering a passport might have a negative impact.

Interestingly, only 57% of GPs  thought giving patients a $300 vaccination incentive payment would positively affect the time taken to achieve vaccination targets, which tends to suggest GPs consider patients to be motivated more by freedom and access to travel than by money.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
Prof Peter Richmond

Prof Peter Richmond

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease – What GPs Need to Know

Dr Sushil Pant

Dr Sushil Pant

Acutely Painful Shoulder – Assessment and Management in GP

Dr Richard Phoon

Dr Richard Phoon

Chronic Kidney Disease – Delay Progression and Prevent Dialysis

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Understand & Explain the Risks & Side Effects of MHT

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Dr Linda Calabresi

writer

Dr Linda Calabresi

GP; Medical Editor, Healthed

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

In your perception, how has Donald Trump's election to the US and related political discourse in the media concerning vaccine safety impact on your patients' willingness to follow Australian government recommended vaccinations?

Very negative impact

0%

Somewhat negative impact

0%

No noticeable impact

0%

Somewhat positive impact

0%

Very positive impact

0%

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Upcoming Healthed Webcast

Tuesday 14th October, 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Speaker

Dr Sushil Pant

Orthopaedic Surgeon; Sydney Sports Medicine Centre

We invite you to our next free webcast, where Dr Sushil Pant will present on acutely painful shoulder. Up to 4 hours CPD. RACGP & ACRRM accredited.