The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has welcomed news that adolescents aged 16 and 17 will now be able to receive a Pfizer booster vaccine.
It comes following the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommending the use of the vaccine as a booster dose for this age group.
RACGP President Dr Karen Price welcomed the decision.
"This is another positive step forward in the vaccine rollout," she said.
"With tens of thousands of new COVID-19 cases emerging every day and students returning to school the timing couldn't be better. These adolescents are in the senior years of their schooling so it's so vital to offer them the increased protection a booster vaccine provides.
"Once again, I remind everyone that all the COVID-19 vaccines are extremely safe and effective and will significantly reduce the incidence of people suffering severe effects from the virus, including hospitalisation or worse. We know from studies based on emerging real-world data that mRNA boosters, such as Pfizer, provide roughly 86% protection against symptomatic Omicron infection and 98% against severe infection."
Dr Price warned that practices delivering COVID-19 vaccines needed more assistance
"This latest booster announcement for adolescents 16- to 17-year-olds is great news but it will add another layer of work for the nation's GPs and general practice teams," she said.
"We are flat out delivering kid's vaccines, which is more time intensive and complicated compared to adults, as well as boosters and taking care of our day-to-day patient case load. Some people avoided or delayed screenings and consults during the pandemic and others have had to delay elective surgery, so helping those people is also a high priority.
"If we are to continue as the backbone of the vaccine rollout, we really need more support from the federal Government. Many practices are having enormous difficulty absorbing the cost of taking part in the rollout. We didn't sign up to make money but at the end of the day we must make ends meet because no one benefits when a practice has to shut up shop.
"Last year, I welcomed an additional $10 for practices delivering booster vaccines; however, since then our workload has only grown and grown. That is why we need the federal Government to step up and provide more funding for our hardworking general practice teams. When that occurs, practices in communities across Australia will be able to run more after-hours and weekend vaccination clinics and get more vaccines in arms as soon as possible.
"I am proud of all the GPs and general practice teams taking part in the rollout, but we need greater support. With Omicron cases surging across the country - the time for action is now."
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