GPs who are not vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus may soon be banned from seeing any patients.
New rules are on the table to make it mandatory for all health care workers, including GPs, to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
The message is crystal clear: “GPs and practice staff who cannot or will not have a COVID-19 vaccine should be moved from any role involving patient contact,” said Dr Karen Price, RACGP president.
The national cabinet is considering making vaccination mandatory for all health care workers and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) is asking that the new rules also apply to general practice.
According to the plans on the table, the only exceptions would be for staff who do not interact with patients and those with contraindications to the available vaccines. But even for professionals who qualify for an exemption, there will be consequences. “The RACGP also recognises there are exceptions to every rule and a small percentage of us may have valid health reasons that mean they cannot be vaccinated,” Dr Price wrote on the college website.
“Unfortunately, I think these people will have to consider redeployment to non-patient-facing roles if they want to remain in healthcare,” she added.
Currently, valid contraindications for the AstraZeneca vaccine include a history of capillary leak syndrome, anaphylaxis linked to a vaccine ingredient or a serious adverse event, particularly thrombosis with thrombocytopenia linked to a previous dose.
For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, contraindications involve previous anaphylaxis linked to a dose or ingredient of the mRNA vaccine or a serious adverse events, such as myocarditis and/or pericarditis.
A controversial move
The planned changes come in line with a recent announcement making COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for all WA health care workers and health support staff from December 1, 2021, in both public and private health care settings. GPs are now added to the list of professionals needing to get the jab.
If approved, the plans will effectively force all GPs to get vaccinated or risk losing their practice. But, according to RACGP, the move has solid moral and practical grounds.
“Speaking personally, I simply cannot fathom how a healthcare worker — a person who has dedicated their life to protecting and helping patients — could argue that their right to remain unvaccinated is more important than the health and safety of vulnerable patients who could potentially die as a result of their decision,” Dr Price said.
“We cannot be instruments of harm, and as such, we have a duty of care to protect people through any and every means at our disposal, especially when we have access to proven, safe and effective vaccines amid a deadly pandemic,” she added.