Should GPs use leftover COVID-19 vax as boosters for themselves?
Some practices say they are facing ethical dilemmas between disposing of vaccines or giving them to colleagues with declining immunity
A GP is calling for urgent guidance from ATAGI on COVID-19 vaccine boosters, arguing leftover doses in the current rollout should be used to tackle the risk of declining immune response among health workers.
While wastage remains rare, Dr Kat McLean says GPs are facing “ethical dilemmas” when they have excess doses and no unvaccinated patients to take them.
After a patient no-show for a Pfizer vaccination last week, a doctor at her practice requested to use the dose as a booster, says Dr McLean, a GP on the Gold Coast.
“It was the end of the day, and there was no alternative patient to fill the booking.
