COVID-19 vaccinations: GPs won’t need to use the govt’s appointment system

Health officials say practices can use their usual channels to book patient appointments
Geir O'Rourke

GP practices administering COVID-19 vaccinations will not have to use the Federal Government’s online appointment system and will be free to book patients as normal, health officials say.

More than 1000 practices applied to join Phase 1B of the national rollout covering the six million Australians who are eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

With TGA approval expected this month, the first doses are scheduled by the end of March for delivery to the practices selected by the government.

Patients were expected to use a ‘National Booking System’ being developed by the government as a “single point of entry” for the vaccinations.