Information for GPs

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout

The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available. Doses of this vaccine are available at specific hospital sites across urban and rural Australia.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will progressively be distributed through an expanded number of sites, including general practice clinics, existing Commonwealth GP respiratory clinics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services, state-run vaccination clinics and pharmacies.

The vaccine rollout roadmap has determined the phases of vaccination for priority groups. They are:

Phase 1a

• quarantine and border workers
• frontline at-risk health care workers*
• residential aged care and disability care staff
• residential aged care and disability care residents.

Phase 1b

• adults over 70 years
• all other health care workers (including those working at hospitals, general practice, pharmacy, allied health and community health services)
• begin vaccinating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 and over
• people at increased risk of severe disease e.g. people with an underlying medical condition or with a disability
• critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.

Phase 2a

• adults over 50 years
• continue vaccinating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• other critical and high risk workers.

Phase 2b

• balance of adult population
• catch up any unvaccinated Australians from previous phases.

Phase 3

• people under 18 years if recommended.

*Frontline health care workers in phase 1a are those at the greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19. This includes those working at/as:

• GP Respiratory Clinics
• COVID-19 testing facilities
• ambulance staff
• paramedics
• ICU staff
• emergency department staff
• clinical and ancillary support staff.

COVID-19 assessment and management HealthPathway

This pathway has been endorsed by State Health Emergency Coordination Centre to guide primary care management of COVID‑19 in the state.

National guidelines for public health units

The Series of National Guidelines have been developed in consultation with the Communicable Diseases Network Australia and endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. These guidelines summarise recommendations for surveillance, infection control, laboratory testing and contact management for COVID-19.

PPE suppliers in Australia

The PHN has made every effort to determine the legitimacy of these companies, but cannot guarantee their level of service. This information is being provided to support practices, but it is not an endorsement of the companies listed.