A GP banned for “gross overprescribing” of dangerous drugs has been given the green light to administer COVID-19 vaccinations and swab patients with symptoms of the virus because of his practice’s dire need for staff.

Allowing the Sydney-based doctor to provide coronavirus inoculations, pre-vaccination counselling and test patients who have symptoms was in the “strong public interest”, the NSW Supreme Court said in a decision handed down this week.

In May, the Miranda-based GP was struck off by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for at least a year after admitting to prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines “on a scale [that] was entirely inappropriate”.

One of his patients received 200 alprazolam tablets in two weeks; another received 540 oxycodone tablets within two months, the tribunal heard.