GPs are apparently handing patients government IOUs following the Queensland Premier’s announcement on Twitter that she would make flu vaccines free for all, which has caused chaos at practices unaware of what was happening.

With a bad flu season looming, Annastacia Palaszczuk posted that she was funding influenza vaccines for all those over six months who were not covered by the National Immunisation Program.

She then urged Queenslanders “to speak with their local GP or pharmacist” to see which vaccine was available.

But Gold Coast GP Dr Tammra Warby said practices had no advance notice and, at the time of writing, still did not know for sure whether staff were meant to administer their private vaccine stocks and ask for payment from the government or wait for deliveries.