Nurses at the Gold Coast University Hospital receive instructions ahead of the Pfizer vaccine roll out in the Gold Coast, on February 22. Australia began its roll out of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on Monday, the country’s most complicated logistical exercise to date. Photo: Albert Perez/AAP Image
25 February 2021 10:53am
The first week of the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in aged care homes has highlighted problems of delivery of the vaccine and equipment. In Brisbane a doctor gave to two elderly patients a dosage that was five times above the recommended levels prompting an investigation by the federal government.
The federal Department of Health said in a statement that Health Care Australia (HCA) had assured it that the that the doctor in question had completed “all of the required COVID-19 vaccine training”.
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President of the Telethon Kids Institute Jonathan Carapetis says he is “not surprised” two elderly patients who were given four times the prescribed dose of the Pfizer vaccine have not had any “major reactions”.
A man, 88, is in hospital as a precaution and a woman, 94, also received the extra dosage at Holy Spirit Carseldine in Queensland.
“The actual risk of getting a high dose of vaccine is not as great as you might think, and certainly not as great as getting a high dose of drugs,” Mr Carapetis said.
Health Minister Greg Hunt has told parliament the doctor who administered the incorrect vaccine doses had not completed training.
A man, 88, is in hospital as a precaution and a woman, 94, also received the extra dosage at Holy Spirit Carseldine in Queensland.
Health Care Australia investigated and found the doctor, who has since stood down, had not completed the required training.